The son of a slain Ohio University professor was arraigned on murder charges this morning.
Jonathan Bebb, 32, of Athens, did not enter a plea in Athens Municipal Court this morning after being charged with the murder of his father, Ohio University professor Phillip Bebb. Judge William Grim set bail at $250,000.
Grim also stipulated that Bebb, a engineering graduate student, must live with his mother, Wilhelmina Lusty, and stepfather, stay at home, except for work or class, and have no access to weapons. Grim did not explain how he decided on those conditions.
Bebb could go free by paying a bondsman 10 percent of the bail — $25,000 — or by providing equity such as real estate.
Bebb had not posted bail as of press time, but could do so through the Athens Police Department at any time.
The Ohio University Police Department has issued a campus crime alert advising students that Bebb has been banned from university property and released on bail. OUPD released the statement “in anticipation” of Bebb’s release, said Sally Linder, university spokeswoman.
Phillip Bebb's wife, Susan West, found the 66-year-old history professor with multiple stab wounds after returning to their home at 18 Mulligan Road, south of the OU campus, about 8 p.m. Monday.
The murder charge carries a potential life sentence but is not punishable by the death penalty, said Athens County Prosecutor C. David Warren.
Warren requested bail be set at $5 million, citing the violent nature of the crime and inconsistencies in Bebb’s story. The elder Bebb was stabbed more than 40 times, including two in the eye, Warren said at the hearing. While the crime scene showed signs of a struggle, there was no evidence of forced entry, Warren said. The weapon used was described as a “buck knife.”
When questioned by police, Bebb showed almost no emotion and offered unusual, inconsistent answers to questions, Warren said.
Bebb also could not offer a consistent explanation for a wound on his right hand, said Robert Driscoll, assistant county prosecutor.
Bebb also had “documented” mental health issues, Warren said. He would not elaborate on the nature of the issues or what he meant by “documented.”
R.J. Shostak, Bebb’s legal counsel and family friend, countered the state’s request by calling the physical evidence against his client “slim.” He also pointed out that Bebb had no criminal record and long-standing ties to the community. Bebb’s biological mother, Lusty, has expressed interest in taking responsibility for him, Shostak said.
Bebb was suspended and banned from the university this morning, said Sally Linder, university spokeswoman. Bebb was arrested Tuesday evening.
President Roderick McDavis has the authority to suspend any student who poses a safety threat to the university. Bebb is entitled to a hearing with the university before OU takes any official action, Linder added.
A hearing in Bebb’s case has yet to be scheduled, Linder said.
Warren, who said he believes the family has the means to put up bail, was skeptical when asked if students would be safe if Bebb was allowed to go free.
“Well, we hope,” he said.
Reader Comments
This guy used to send me really creepy e-mails when I was a columnist and invited me a few places. Good thing I never went...I hope they keep him locked up until the trial. Scary
Let me get this right. This individual, who was so confused, unemotional, and inconsistent at a trial, and who has a well-documented history of mental issues, and who others on campus have identified as, um, perhaps mentally ill was permitted to enter "NO PLEA" (?), and will likely be released on a meager bail amount...to his...mother? And we still have heard not a single word about this latest development from Ohio U.
What I want to know is: where was this likely mentally ill individual, Jon Bebb, all day yesterday, when there was "absolutely no risk to the campus?" Between the time in which they suspected he did it and the time that he was arrested (early Wednesday morning) Was he in class?? On campus? Where will he be tomorrow, after his mom posts bail?
This is extremely, extremely disturbing, and I really hope OU has a statement soon, because if this kid is as disturbed as it sounds like he is, and he is the #1 suspect, it sounds like he absolutely COULD be a risk to the campus, if he is released on bail.
Sorry, confused and inconsistent at an arraignment -- not yet a trial. Nevertheless...this is scary.
youre right the bail is super low, but I don't really think it will be paid anyways. Maybe they said it wasn't a danger to the rest of the campus because the crime seemed so personal in nature? I dunno, it is really messed up though. I'm curious to hear more
The mother and step-father are prominent members of the Athens community. They'll pay the bail, unless they're afraid of taking that responsibility. And we're talking about someone who has documented mental health issues, so even if it were "personal," I don't figure anyone in his right mind would have done it.
I didn't see the part about the family having the means to post bail. I hope they don't
Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?
I have taken several classes with Jon. He is a psycho who always have a blank stare. His father was stabbed 40 times and twice in the eye. Sad. Just look at Jon Bebb's Facebook page. Read his Notes - he admits to being dysfunctional, sexially frustrated, and angry. Clear symptoms of psychosis. This judge needs to be removed from office. I am afraid to attend classes until he is in custody once again. Instead, I will be leading a student strike on campus until this is resolved. $250,000 bond is not acceptable for this crime. Please help in voicing your concerns. The university has taken the correct steps, but the judicial system has not
If you have received creepy or disturbing email you should report this to the police. If the individual had a history of unusual activity the judge probably would have set the bail higher. His potential threat to the community wold have been viewed differently
I feel the need to share this information. This is copied word-for-word from Jon Bebb's facebook page under notes: http://ohio.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=2444677467
"It seems important to me that I would get along best with a woman of similar sexual experience. This seems more important to me than her age. Apparently I have about 5000% less than is normal for my age (admittedly based on internet research, which suggests that twice a week beginning at age 18 is normal by implication perhaps healthy). Have accumulated emotional and possibly physical damage as a result of years (perhaps decades) of wasted sexual energy. Anger. Alienation. Dysfunction. Suspect that I will now unfortunately consider almost any single woman as having emotional and physical leftovers to offer/ By-products, as in most commercial cat food."
This is the mentality of the man just released on bond for murdering his father. This judge needs to leave office ASAP.
I can't believe that Facebook note. This guy brought up sex in every e-mail he sent me and came across as very angry that other women had rejected him. I politely turned him down, but his messages always rubbed me the wrong way...I really feel he's a threat to the community. OU students should boycott class until the psychotic decision to let him out on bail is reversed.
His writings are extremely similar to that of the Va Tech shooter. Unfortunately, those writings were not brought to attention until after the devastation. Hope that doesn't happen here. - I'm completely threatened and this is why I have invested so much time into posting comments here. In hope that they would reach appropriate and authoritative eyes.
Just to let everyone know- While going through Baker Center today, I noticed a police "warning" on the lower door noting that Jonathan Bebb is suspect in the murder of his father and that he is prohibited from being on Ohio university property. It says not to approach him but to call the police.
The description the prosecutor gave of him at the arraignment is right in line with someone who has (or has had) a psychotic break. "Bebb showed almost no emotion and offered unusual, inconsistent answers to questions, Warren said."
I don't get this. What could his mother possibly do for him if he is in the middle of a psychotic episode? Restrain him? I absolutely don't understand how a judge could have even considered releasing him to his mother when there is a clear reason to suspect a serious mental illness/break.
Besides, he's 32 years old. Bail conditional upon release to his mother? This is small-town politics at its worst. I don't feel safe. At all.
Please keep in mind, despite his "Documented" mental illness that the prosecuter brought to the Judge, the Judge still released him on a cheap bond and said He can still go to work and classes. WHAT THE HELL?
Fortunately, McDavis did the right thing!!!
I'm thankful that our own Roddy McD has really stepped up to the plate this time in our defense; for his schools safety. However, I am appalled at the actions of this towns judicial system. If mommy couldn't stop Mr. Jon Bebb from killing his father in the first place, how do you suppose mommy is going to stop him from doing more damage? A "documented" history of mental illness, doesn't sound like a clean slate to me. It sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. A murderer is clearly a threat to others, so why did the judge state that Bebb is permitted to go to class and work? I don't want him showing up anywhere near me. I don't feel safe outside of my apartment and that is sad.
I’ve taken classes with this guy before, he’s been creepy as long as I’ve known him and honestly I wasn’t surprised to read about this. The showing no emotion part is typical of this guy.
If he did commit then crime (and it looks like it since that investigate moved to charge him less than 2 days after it happened) then he would be capable of anything after murdering one of his parents! If he did kill one, what’s stopping him from killing the other?? What’s releasing a 32 year old man into the custody of his other parent going to do? It’s just idiotic. Everyone should be protected from him until this is straightened out! The university is doing its part as much as it can, it’s the judge that let us down. Has the judge even heard of what happened in Virginia last year? No one knows what’s in this guys head and what else he might do.
Now the engineering building, and probably most buildings on campus, is forced to warn everyone to be on the lookout for Bebb, as he’s been released on bail and might be a danger. Great job Judge Grim.
Bebb was a housemate of mine while I attended OU during 94-95 school year. He has been unstable from at least this time period, if not earlier. He threatened myself and another housemate with bodily harm at the time because he was convinced that I was a narc working with the police and using the common answering machine we had in the house to record his phone calls. The other housemate was threatened because he was the one that introduced Bebb and myself the previous year when we were looking for houses off campus. Oddly enough, he threatened both of us with a kitchen knife. After this incident his father retrieved him from the house, and the rumor was (neither of us found out for sure) that his father had him committed for a period of time. This would probably be the reference to his previous mental condition by the prosecutor.
As others have mentioned, his blank stare and no emotions whatsoever are par for the course for Bebb. He's been that way for years, and the initial mug shots that I've seen on the web have brought back so many memories from years ago. He really hasn't changed in the last 13 years it seems. It is amazing that the local authorities are so blinded by the facts as to release him with such a small bond.
This is so sad. My thoughts are with Bebb's family and his colleagues. I'd like to commend the university on its appropriate response, though; having once been the target of stalking at OU, and having been faced with an evasive and unsympathetic administration, I'm pleased to see that it's finally taking a more proactive stance -- I hope this is a sign that it is and will be as aggressive in handling Bebb's case and ones that do not capture headlines, and in providing adequate support to those affected.
I am the parent of a freshman. We were at OU for Parents Weekend. This murder, disturbing yes, but I am appreciative of the photo postings at Ping about this dangerous man. I'm glad the school is covering their butt. What's with the knives? A former neighbor, now former student and murder suspect for killing his ex girlfriend last Spring in Nelsonville, is in Dayton. His parents paid 800K for the priviledge of having him home until trial. He is accused of stabbing his former girlfriend to death. They were students at Hocking College.
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