Christopher Dailey sentenced in Portland gravel pit murder

POMEROY – Christopher Dailey entered a plea of guilty to a charge of aggravated murder in the Meigs County Court of Common Pleas and has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 20 years.

Dailey was charged in the murder of Brandon Lupardus. The body of Ludpardus was discovered on Father’s Day 2016 in a gravel pit in Portland, Ohio by an employee of the Shelley Corporation. As reported in the Meigs Independent Press at the time, according to Meigs County Sheriff Keith Wood, the homicide investigation began following the discovery at 4 p.m. on Father’s Day weekend. The discovery lead to an investigation taking officials to West Virginia and multiple counties before a suspect was taken into custody. Dailey decided to enter a guilty plea to an amended charge the day before the trial was set to start.

Families on both sides of the courtroom waited through agonizing minutes for the proceedings to begin Monday, December 12, 2016. Judge I. Carson Crow entered the courtroom at 12:52 p.m. and the proceedings began loved ones on both sides of the courtroom could be heard sobbing at times.

Dailey appeared in the court with his council, Herman Carson and Karen Justice. Judge Crow meticulously went through asking Dailey questions concerning his change of plea to guilty. Dailey affirmed he was making the plea of his own free will. Maintaining that will, Dailey refused to speak to the victim’s family even following a statement from the victim’s mother, Kimberly Horn. Horn said she had hoped for closure, but Dailey offered nothing, just a simple “no” to Judge Crow when asked if he would like to say anything.

Horn addressed the court, “I have always felt that I am a strong woman, I have been through many difficult things in my life, but nothing could have prepared me for the loss of my son, Brandon.”

She went on to talk about her son’s love of sports from a young age including playing football and wrestling for Ravenswood. She said he played varsity football and went to state competition his first year wrestling for Ravenswood High School.

Horn highlighted the times in the lives’ both of Lupardus’ children will miss with him in the years to come including how Father’s Day will be forever changed for the family. A son, now 11 years old, and a daughter, now five years old, have been left without a father following Lupardus’ death at the hands of Dailey. According to the facts stipulated to by the defendant, Dailey killed Lupardus with a gun shot wound to the head.

“Thanksgiving was the first time ever that we had a family member not there. No family picture was taken because we couldn’t’ bear the thought of seeing it without Brandon in it,” Horn said as she continued to address the court.

Horn had asked Dailey several questions, “What did Brandon do that was so horrible that you decided to end his life? Why did you pick Father’s Day to commit this unspeakable crime?”

She ended her statement with, “I pray that the Lord has mercy on your soul and that you never have to suffer the loss of one of your children at the hands of another. If you ever find it in your heart to sit down with me and tell me why you did this, I am willing and ready to hear it. Someday I hope I can forgive you.”

Dailey must serve the full 20 years before he can be considered for parole. He was not given credit for any time served. He could face community control for the rest of his life if he is paroled.

“We are very sorry for the loss of the life of Brandon Lupardus,” Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney told the Meigs Independent Press. She went on to praise the multi-agency cooperative investigative effort on the part of the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the Major Crimes Task Force.

Williams said she hoped there was, “Some security to the family the right person has been prosecuted for this.”

While there have been theories and rumors circulated regarding the reason why Dailey killed Lupardus, nothing has been solidly offered by the defense or the prosecution. Dailey offered nothing as he sat showing little visible emotion during sentencing.

The family maintains there were two other people that were witnesses, that knew of the slaying. No further charges have been filed on other suspects in the case in Ohio or West Virginia. Williams said there could be charges brought in the future, but would not elaborate further. She said Dailey was the person responsible for killing Lupardus.