‘They are going to get used to seeing us’: Victim’s aunts appear at court for men charged in her homicide

Two men charged in connection with the shooting death of a woman found dead earlier this month at a Monroe house were back in court on Wednesday.

So were the aunts of the victim.

Jordan James Lay, 22, of Mason, and Nicholas Alan Mattox, 23, of Trenton, were arrested Feb. 5, a day after 32-year-old Amy Risner of Middletown was found dead at an Anne Road house.

Lay was indicted on charges of murder with a specification that a gun was used in the crime, felonious assault and tampering with evidence. Mattox was indicted on two counts of tampering with evidence, both third-degree felonies. Both were initially charged with aggravated murder by Monroe police.

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“They are going to get used to seeing us,” said Bonnie Risner, aunt of Amy Risner.

She attended the pre-trial hearing with Vickie Risner, also Amy’s aunt. Bonnie Risner wore a black T-shirt with a photo of her niece stating “Justice for Amy.”

Last week, Butler County Common Pleas Judge Greg Howard set bond at $1 million for Lay and $10,000 for Mattox, who is now facing lesser charges.

Mattox, who is free on bond and wearing a GPS monitor, appeared in court on Wednesday with attorney David Washington. The case was continued for two weeks while discovery is shared with the defense.

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Assistant Butler County Prosecutor Brad Burress indicated there is “quite a bit” of evidence in the case.

Lay, who remains in the Butler County Jail, also appeared for a pretrial hearing with his attorney Darrin Nye. Both men waived their right to a speedy trial and are scheduled to be back in court March 18.

Court records filed in Butler County Area II court said Lay confessed to killing Risner, a mother of three sons.

Police were called shortly before 4 p.m. Feb. 4 on a report of an unresponsive person. Risner was pronounced dead at the scene, and her death was ruled a homicide by the Butler County Coroner’s Office.

In an application for a warrant to search the house, police said Risner suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

The house and Risner had been the subjects of a drug investigation by the Warren County Drug Task Force for months before the homicide, according to court documents.

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