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Derek Myers, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

Fayette Advocate has obtained a photo from inside the garage where the body of a 5-year-old girl was found covered in blood on Sunday.

In the photo, it’s evident that the toddler was found laying in a large amount blood, based on the stains left on the concrete floor.

It's evident that the toddler was found laying in a large amount of blood based on this photo of the crime scene. CLICK TO ENLARGE

The uncle of the 5-year-old girl, who was found dead on Sunday on Flat Run Road in Highland County, has been charged with her murder after Deputies say he confessed to killing her.

Matthew Kaleb Pierson, 18, 897 Flat Run Road, is in the custody of deputies for allegedly killing his niece, Jada Beth Williams, 5, after deputies say he confessed to them on Sunday that he killed her the previous day.

A joint press conference was held Monday by Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward and Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins at the Highland County Justice Center, where Ward said “a short time ago, murder charges were filed against the 18-year-old… It’s evident her death was the result of a criminal act.”

In a 9-1-1 call released (click here to listen), a vividly shaken grandmother reports her granddaughter’s death.

CALLER: My granddaughter is dead. I just come home. She was here with the guy I live with and my grandson and she is dead. Oh my God! Would you please hurry up?

DISPATCHER: How old is she?

CALLER: She’s five.

DISPATCHER: Five years old?

CALLER: Yes. She’s covered in blood.

Fayette Advocate has obtained an affidavit (view here)  from the Highland County Municipal Court where a detective outlines what occurred shortly after arriving on scene.

“On August 12, 2012, the Highland County Sheriff received a report of a death on Flat Run Road,” said the affidavit. “Officers responding to the scene found the body of Jada Williams at 897 Flat Run Road. Affiant (the detective) saw trauma to the head to the victim.”

Matthew Kaleb Pierson

It further reads that deputies then placed Matthew Kaleb Pierson into custody and he was read his miranda rights, and later interviewed regarding the homicide.

The detective continues in his affidavit saying that Peirson admitted to the murder.

“Pierson told affiant (the detective) that he killed Jada on Saturday, August 11, 2012 inside the house on Flat Run Road. Pierson described a weapon used to strike Jada and told affiant (the detective) about placing the body in the position Jada’s body was found.”

Deputies said the weapon used was a large handheld cutting tool used to cut tall grass, similar to a scythe – typically a hand-held implement used for mowing, with a long curving blade fastened to a long handle.

Jada Beth Williams

Pierson will be arraigned at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Hillsboro Municipal Court before Judge David McKenna. The case will then be presented to a grand jury.

Ward said charges against Pierson could be upgraded, and additional people could be charged in connection with the murder as well.

Another male, a 38-year-old who is owner of the home, was being held as a person of interest in the case, but has since been released, according to Ward.

A public records request made by Fayette Advocate to the Highland County Auditor’s office revealed that Shawn T. Williamson owns the home located on Flat Run Road.

According to Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward, on Sunday at 12:47 p.m., his office recieved a 9-1-1 transfer call from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office from the victim’s grandmother reporting an unresponsive child at 897 Flat Run Road in Jackson Township.

The scene was active early into Monday morning.

Sheriff’s Deputies, along with the Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, were dispatched to the scene where upon arrival, they found a five year old female toddler deceased in the garage.

It soon became apparent that the child had been a victim of a criminal act and therefore, the scene was secured by deputies and the Highland County Coroner, as well as Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, were notified.

Crime scene agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations responded to the scene to assist the Sheriff’s office in processing the crime scene and interviewing several witnesses.

Four search warrants were executed, Ward said, including real estate, bodily fluids and cell phones.

The toddler’s body was removed from the garage and taken to the Montgomery County Coroner’s office in Dayton, Ohio where an autopsy will be performed and where she will undergo further forensic examination.

Stay with Fayette Advocate as we bring you the latest.

Derek Myers can be reached at dmyers@fayetteadvocate.com and @DerekMyers.