Crista Nicole Spears, 26, of Middletown, Ohio, died of a gunshot wound on May 5, 2015, in a South Side Columbus apartment on Rosedale Drive. She was the daughter of Tracy Fultz and Tammy Rosenbaum and is survived by children Alyssa Spears, Jay Tyler Spears, Arabella Fensler, and Neal Fensler Jr.

Her boyfriend, Neil D. Fensler, then 24, initially told police the shotgun fell over and discharged. A Columbus police investigation, aided by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, found inconsistencies with that account and concluded Crista was shot while lying on an air mattress with her arms raised in a defensive posture. Fensler was arrested and later received a life sentence with no parole for 18 years; as part of a plea agreement prosecutors dismissed counts including aggravated murder, domestic violence, and illegal gun possession. Family members attended the sentencing and supported the plea.

Does anyone have information about Crista’s case or knew her or her family that could add context to what happened?