BRYAN, Ohio — A local woman is facing serious charges, including attempted aggravated murder, following a violent incident at her ex-husband’s home in Williams County. Authorities allege that 31-year-old Amanda S. Heller broke into the residence while her former spouse was asleep, made threats against his life, and discharged a firearm.
The situation escalated on April 26 when Heller reportedly entered the home and threatened to kill her ex-husband. According to the criminal complaint, which was later elevated to a grand jury, she fired two rounds from a handgun during the altercation. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and the man’s identity has not been disclosed.
Heller was taken into custody on May 21, approximately three weeks after the incident occurred. She was booked into the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio, which serves several counties in the region. Initial court documents indicated charges of felonious assault in Bryan Municipal Court, but the case soon moved to Williams County Common Pleas Court, where a grand jury indicted her on four counts. Her bond was set at $100,000, and a court order prohibits her from contacting the alleged victim.
The grand jury’s indictment signals a significant shift in the prosecution’s approach to the case. It includes charges of attempted aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation, and domestic violence. The most severe allegation, attempted aggravated murder, suggests that Heller intended to kill her ex-husband with premeditation, while the aggravated burglary charge indicates she unlawfully entered an occupied structure with the intent to commit a crime.
Details surrounding the incident have raised questions among community members, primarily due to the circumstances involving a sleeping resident and a former partner. Officers have not disclosed a motive for the alleged attack, nor have they confirmed whether the weapon used was recovered or if any physical damage occurred during the break-in. Additionally, reports do not indicate if there were previous police encounters involving the couple or if any protective orders were in place prior to the incident.
Williams County, located in rural northwest Ohio near the borders of Indiana and Michigan, is characterized by its small-town atmosphere and close-knit communities. Criminal proceedings typically initiate in municipal court, advancing to common pleas court for more severe charges, as occurred in this case. The progression from initial assault charges to attempted murder reflects prosecutors’ concerns about the gravity of the allegations.
As Heller prepares for her next court appearance, a pretrial hearing is scheduled for June 22. During this session, legal representatives are expected to discuss various procedural issues, including bond conditions and discovery matters. At this stage, Heller has not publicly entered a plea regarding the more serious charges, nor has a defense attorney been identified to advocate on her behalf.
While the alleged victim has reportedly emerged unscathed physically, the ongoing legal proceedings reveal deeper issues of domestic conflict and violence. Heller remains in custody at the regional jail, with strict conditions against contacting her former spouse. The Williams County Common Pleas Court will closely monitor developments leading up to the upcoming pretrial hearing, as the judicial process moves forward.