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Friday, June 13, 2025

Victim Rights Appeal Leads to Keyle Anderson Re-Sentencing

On June 9, 2025, family members of Corey Anderson appeared in a Muskingum County Common Pleas Court to exercise their right to make victim-impact statements to Judge Cottrill. This new hearing came about after the Fifth District Court of Appeals, sitting with visiting judges, ruled Corey’s family had the constitutional right to an opportunity to be heard during Keyle Anderson's initial sentencing in 2024.

The successful appeal, filed by the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center resulted in the Courts scheduling Anderson’s 2024 case for a required re-sentencing hearing.

APA John Litle, Victim Advocate Lea Ann Tignor, and Appellate Counsel Joseph Palmer with the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office initiated the appeal on behalf of the victims to the Fifth District Court of Appeals. Enlisting her specialized experience advocating for victim rights, Elizabeth Well with the Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center, joined the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office in the appeal presentation and argument.

In Court, the victims received strong support. Many families and friends stood with them to share their statements.

Judge Cottrill listened to the victim statements. Then, he upheld Keyle Anderson's original sentence from May 8, 2024.

Details of the Original Case:

On May 8, 2024, the Muskingum County Court held a sentencing hearing for Keyle Anderson for charges related to the death of her husband, Corey Anderson.

At her hearing, Anderson was found guilty of two counts of endangering children and one count of failing to provide for a functionally impaired person. These charges stem from Anderson filming Corey Anderson, her husband, dying of a drug overdose. Children from the couple were in the home at the time of the crime. The film further revealed Anderson allowing one of their children to watch their father overdose and refusing the children’s request to call for medical assistance.

As Litle explained in Court, Corey Anderson’s family relentlessly pursued an investigation of, and a prosecution for, his demise. The family never gave up despite numerous setbacks during the investigative phase of the case, ultimately requesting and receiving help from the prosecutor’s office in moving the case forward.

During the 2024 hearing Judge Cottrill sentenced Keyle Anderson to 4 ½ years in prison. At her hearing not every victim affected by Keyle’s crime was given the opportunity to be heard in Court, leading to the victim right’s appeal.

Details of the Appeal:

Any time there are victims involved in a case they are entitled to certain legal rights. One of these rights includes the opportunity to be heard in court prior to sentencing. Common ways include speaking in the Court or having a letter read on their behalf. Keyle Anderson’s case involved several victims including the children, parents, and family members of her husband, Corey Anderson.

During the sentencing, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Litle requested to Judge Cottrill that each victim be heard, on record, prior to Anderson’s sentencing. When the request was denied, Litle filed motions requesting that the Court reconsider the decision, and later requesting the Court provide an entry explaining the reasoning that the victims’ rights were denied.

In 2018, Ohio adopted “Marsy’s Law” or the Ohio Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights. This bill of rights states, “Crime victims have the right to be present and heard at all court proceedings. They can also offer input on negotiated pleas…” (supremecourt.ohio.gov/marsy-s-law-and-crime-victim-rights/)

There are several phases involved in submitting an appeal to the Court of Appeals.

Filing the Notice of Appeal:

After Keyle’s sentencing, Lea Ann Tignor, victim advocate with the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s office, guided Corey Anderson’s family through the jurisdictional appeal process and their rights, answering questions and maintaining an open line of communication throughout. The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office then filed an appeal on behalf of the victims.

Corey’s parents then met with Elizabeth Well at the Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center for specialized assistance to enforce their rights as victims.

Content of the Appeal:

The appeal included several exhibits that supported the appeal’s request.

The appeal asked that the Court set aside Keyle Anderson’s case and hold a sentencing hearing during which the victims’ rights were upheld. This would let the victims exercise their Constitutional and Statutory rights and have their voices heard in the Court.

The appeal also included an argument from Elizabeth Well, in response to Keyle Anderson’s Defense Attorney, justifying the argument and appeal.

Determination of the Motion:

On April 7, 2025, over a year after the appeal was submitted, the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office learned that the Court of Appeals reversed and remanded the case for a proper sentencing. This means that The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s office and Elizabeth Well with the Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center, won their appeal, and the court would be required to conduct another sentencing hearing.

New Sentencing Hearing:

On June 9, 2025, the Court conducted a new sentencing hearing. During the hearing Judge Cottrill heard testimony and statements from Corey Anderson’s parents, children, siblings and relatives. The family members explained the horror of Corey Anderson’s death, about Keyle Anderson’s conduct following Corey’s death, and the four-year ordeal the family has endured since that time in an effort to achieve justice. The family asked for a maximum, or ninety (90) month sentence.

Judge Cottrill heard from APA John Litle who again asked for a substantial sentence.

At the conclusion of the hearing Judge Cottrill explained the difficulty a Judge faces when crafting a sentence in a difficult case. He sentenced Keyle Anderson again to 4 ½ years in prison.

“As in the initial sentencing, we were disappointed in the ultimate length of the defendant’s sentence,” according to APA John Litle who handled the case.“This week every victim was provided the dignity of putting their word on the record and being heard about their desires for the woman who caused the death of their father, son, and brother.”

“Throughout this case, Corey Anderson’s family has fought tooth and nail for justice in the face of a frustrating series of barriers. The love they have for Corey and for one another has been demonstrated time and time again,” Litle explained. “I know they are disappointed with the sentence, and the staff at the prosecutor’s office waged a long battle to achieve a more meaningful sentence. The fight that the Anderson family put into achieving justice for Corey is a lasting legacy for Corey and a credit to their family.”

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