Background: News footage of the house fire in Ansonia, Ohio, where Ericka Kramer was found dead on April 10 (WHIO). Inset (left): Peyton Beam (Darke County Sheriff”s Office). Inset (right): Ericka Kramer (Facebook).
In a chilling turn of events, an Ohio volunteer firefighter, Peyton Beam, stands accused of a heinous crime involving the murder of a woman he once worked for, followed by an attempt to obliterate the evidence through arson. The 22-year-old was taken into custody on Sunday, facing charges of aggravated murder, just days after 50-year-old Ericka Kramer was discovered lifeless in her Ansonia, Ohio residence.
The sequence of events unfolded when the Ansonia Fire Department responded to a distress call about a house engulfed in flames on April 10. Upon arrival, the fire had already consumed much of the structure, and tragically, Kramer was found dead inside. The Darke County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that her death was ruled a homicide.
Ironically, one of the firefighters on the scene was none other than Beam himself. According to courtroom reports from local CBS affiliate WHIO, prosecutors allege that Beam orchestrated the fire to conceal the crime, having fatally shot Kramer prior to igniting the blaze.
During Beam’s initial court appearance on Monday, prosecutors painted a grim picture of the crime. They revealed that Beam had been performing farm work at Kramer’s home since his teenage years. Prosecutors described the killing as an “execution,” detailing that Kramer suffered two gunshot wounds to the back and two to the head.
In a disturbing twist, prosecutors claimed Beam doused Kramer’s body with gasoline before setting the house on fire. Shockingly, he later returned to the scene with his fellow firefighters from the Ansonia Fire Department, even participating in efforts to quell the flames. The prosecutor highlighted that Beam was among the first responders to arrive at the burning property.
As Beam appeared via video call during the proceedings, he could be seen shaking his head. His defense attorney portrayed a different relationship, describing Kramer as a “second mother” to Beam. The attorney expressed a keen interest in exploring ballistics evidence, emphasizing the defense’s demand for concrete proof beyond mere conjecture, as reported by WHIO.
Kramer, who is survived by a daughter and stepchildren and lost her husband in 2022, was a beloved cheerleading coach for Ansonia Public Schools.
Beam was charged with aggravated murder and aggravated arson. During his court appearance on Monday, a judge set his bond at $5 million, cash or surety. He would have to post 10% cash, or $500,000, to be granted release. He is currently still in custody at the Darke County Jail. His next court date was not available.
