The Knox County Prosecutor’s Office has officially filed charges against 16-year-old Brice Hay in Knox County Juvenile Court, alleging he committed aggravated murder in connection with the stabbing death of his father, Kevin R. Hay. This tragic event has sent shockwaves through the Howard community, leaving residents, friends, and neighbors grappling with grief and disbelief as they try to comprehend the circumstances surrounding the incident that occurred on December 9, 2025.
Prosecutor Chip McConville confirmed that a motion has been filed to have Brice Hay prosecuted as an adult, citing the severity of the charges. “We have filed a motion to have this case bound over to common pleas court for prosecution as an adult,” McConville stated. He explained that in cases involving murder, a mandatory bindover process is automatically triggered, requiring the juvenile court to transfer the case to the general division of the common pleas court if probable cause is established that the juvenile committed the alleged acts. This process is designed to ensure that serious cases like this are handled with the appropriate level of judicial scrutiny, reflecting the gravity of the alleged crime.
“[Brice Hay] is almost 17 and a half years old, so he falls into that age category where it’s a mandatory transfer,” McConville added. The process will involve a probable cause hearing, scheduled for January 16, 2026, during which Juvenile Judge Jay Nixon will review evidence presented by prosecutors and defense attorneys to determine whether there is sufficient credible evidence to proceed with an adult trial.
The incident unfolded around 6:16 p.m. on December 9 at a residence on King Road in Howard. Law enforcement officials from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of an injured person and discovered Kevin R. Hay deceased at the scene, suffering from multiple stab wounds. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the stabbing has been ongoing, with law enforcement quickly identifying Brice Hay as a suspect.
Detectives from the Knox County Major Crimes Unit, working alongside the Knox County Coroner’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), conducted an extensive scene investigation to gather evidence. Following this, Brice Hay was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Muskingum County Juvenile Detention Center, where he remains in custody pending further proceedings.
Kevin Hay’s body was transported to the Licking County Coroner’s Office, which performed an autopsy on December 11. Prosecutor McConville declined to release the autopsy report, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. Authorities have emphasized that additional details will be made available as the case progresses through the legal system.
The local community has been deeply affected by the tragedy, with many residents expressing shock and sadness. The Hay family, well-known and respected in the community, is at the center of this heartbreaking event. As the legal process unfolds, residents continue to grapple with the profound loss and the implications of a juvenile potentially facing trial as an adult for such a serious crime.
As the case advances toward the probable cause hearing and eventual court proceedings, legal experts highlight the importance of January 16, 2026, in determining whether Brice Hay will be tried as an adult. This hearing will be pivotal in setting the course for one of the most closely watched and serious criminal cases in Knox County in recent years, raising questions about justice, accountability, and the community’s path forward.
