Key Takeaways:
- A Ross County court set a Feb. 9 trial date for Chase Daugherty, 38, who faces three felony counts in the 2022 death of Chelsea Cooper, 30.
- Cooper died in a Jan. 17, 2022 fire at a home along State Route 28 near Frankfort, Ross County.
- Daugherty faces two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless homicide, according to court records.
- A grand jury indicted him Aug. 21, and he remains in the Ross County Jail on a $100,000 bond, according to NBC4 and 10TV.
- The case is outside Franklin County, and no Columbus roads or services are affected.
Quick Facts:
What: A Ross County court scheduled the trial of a man charged in a 2022 fatal house fire.
Where: Ross County Courthouse, Chillicothe; the fire was on State Route 28 near Frankfort, about 50 miles south of Columbus.
When: Hearing Monday, Sept. 28, 2026; trial set for Feb. 9, 2027.
Who: Chase Daugherty, 38; Chelsea Cooper, 30; Ross County Sheriff’s Office; Ross County Prosecuting Attorney; Ohio State Fire Marshal.
Status: Under prosecution; awaiting trial.
Source: NBC4 Columbus; 10TV (WBNS)
What Happened
The Ross County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported burglary at a home along State Route 28 on Jan. 17, 2022, according to 10TV. Deputies found the home on fire. Firefighters found Chelsea Cooper, 30, dead inside, the sheriff’s office said.
Cooper called 911 twice shortly before the fire to report that people had entered the home, according to NBC4. The coroner’s office said an autopsy found no injuries other than those from the fire.
The sheriff’s office closed the case Oct. 10, 2023, after receiving a correspondence from the Ross County Prosecuting Attorney.
A grand jury indicted Daugherty on Aug. 21, 2026, according to court records. Investigators arrested him Aug. 26 and booked him into the Ross County Jail. At a Monday hearing, the court scheduled his trial to begin Feb. 9.
What Officials Said
Court records allege Daugherty caused Cooper’s death while committing aggravated arson. That allegation underlies the two involuntary manslaughter counts, which are first-degree felonies. The reckless homicide count is a third-degree felony.
Investigative documents from the sheriff’s office say deputies spoke with Daugherty the night of the fire. He told them attackers had shot at and thrown fire bombs into the trailer, according to those documents. Deputies said they believed he was under the influence and arrested him for disorderly conduct. They released him a short time later.
The documents also say investigators noted inconsistencies in his statements over time.
The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s report said investigators could not definitively determine the cause. It concluded the fire was “more likely than not” caused by a human act.
What This Means for Columbus Residents
The case is in Ross County, not Franklin County. No Columbus road closures or public safety alerts are connected to it.
Court records show Daugherty is in jail on a $100,000 bond and ordered to have no contact with Cooper’s family. The trial will take place at the Ross County Courthouse in Chillicothe, about 50 miles south of Columbus along U.S. 23. Columbus-area residents who follow the case can track the court docket through Ross County court records.
Background
Cooper’s death went unresolved for more than four years. Her mother, Angela Brigner, has publicly called for answers, and supporters put up “Justice for Chelsea” signs around the area, according to NBC4. A podcast also covered the case. Dozens of Cooper’s family and friends attended a pretrial hearing Monday at the courthouse, 10TV reported.
Columbus Frontline will update as more information becomes available.