Second murder arrest in 2018 killing of Butler County teen

FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (FOX19) - A second suspect is now under arrest on a felony murder charge in the slaying of a 16-year-old Butler County teenager more than four years ago.

Jordan Antuan Spain was just 14 years old when Fairfield Township police say he played a role in the July 2018 shooting death of Sydney Garcia-Tovar.

It happened in front of his residence at the Tyler’s Creek apartment complex on Wildbranch Road in Fairfield Township.

Sydney was not the intended target of the gunfire, police have said, but she was the only one killed.

The Hamilton High School graduate gave some people a ride to the complex and there was a confrontation, police have said. Multiple shell casings were found at the scene.

Spain was in possession of a loaded gun when he was arrested on outstanding warrants in Miami Township Tuesday night, Fairfield Township police say.

He is being held in the Butler County Juvenile Detention Center until his next hearing on September 13 before Juvenile Judge Kathleen Romans, according to the director of the juvenile justice center.

The case is being prosecuted, at least for now, in the juvenile court system since Spain was a minor when police are alleging the crime occurred.

Police plan to ask that his case be moved to adult court, where his punishment would be more severe if he is convicted.

Stephanie Garcia-Tovar, Sydney’s mother, says she plans to be at every court hearing for Spain and Markeylnd Townsend who was previously arrested in connection to Sydney’s murder.

“What the ultimate goal is is to have them,” said Stephanie. “Now, I have a whole nother fight on my hands and that is to get a conviction.”

Last year, a grand jury indicted the 22-year-old Townsend on murder and felonious assault charges related to her homicide.

Townsend is currently behind bars in the Mansfield Correctional Institution on unrelated robbery charges.

Dectives tell FOX19 NOW they worked four long years to get all the right information from the right people to make both arrests.

“I think it’s kind of a domino effect,” explained Sgt. Brandon McCroskey. “Once one person talks, it kind of leads to another person talking. So, it was over time. . . that’s the most frustrating part about it was just getting people to cooperate enough to get the information that we need to move forward with the case.”

Meanwhile, Fairfield Township police are continuing to investigate Sydney’s homicide.

Anyone with information is asked to call them at 513-887-5841 or CrimeStoppers at 513-352-3040.

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