Catherine Cochran, 50, of Marion, Ohio, was shot to death at her Universal Avenue home on March 9, 2018. Born August 17, 1967, in Montgomery, Alabama, she was survived by her spouse Anthony Russell Cochran, her mother Annie Pittman, four children Tawana, Antonio, D’Angelo, and Shaquille Cochran, and thirteen grandchildren.

The suspect was Mitchell A. Rankin, 35, described as her longtime boyfriend. Rankin said the gun went off while he was under the influence of cocaine and was “messing with” the weapon, and he claimed the shooting was accidental; the family and the prosecution disputed that account. Rankin was taken into custody the day after Catherine’s body was found, initially indicted on murder but later entering a plea and pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter and two other charges. He received a 12-year prison sentence.

Some family members said the plea deal fell short of justice and that Rankin should have been tried for murder. Does anyone have information about Catherine’s life in Marion or details about what happened that night?