MADISON COUNTY, OHIO, Ohio — A southeast Ohio man has been convicted of murder in the shooting death of a Sylvania woman on Easter Sunday 2022, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
Zachary Warnock, of South Solon, between Dayton and Columbus, was convicted after a three day trial of murdering 29-year-old Alexandra Goins of Sylvania.
Warnock was sentenced to 36 years to life in prison.
Warnock was also convicted of Felonious Assault, Tampering with Evidence and Discharge of a Firearm on or Near a Prohibited Premises.
Alexandra Goin's sister, Alyssa Goins, says it was important for their family to be present at every one of Warnock's court appearances, from jury selection to sentencing.
"And to some people, anything before a formal pretrial is kind of unimportant to them, but it is still very important to us," said Alyssa. "So we did travel the three hours down there to make sure that we were present, and that we did have... we were there for Ally and to support her since she has no voice."
Goins was murdered on April 17, 2022.
Around 8:45 a.m. on that day, Madison County sheriff's deputies were called to the village of South Solon, located around 36 miles east of Dayton, on reports of shots being fired from a vehicle.
Deputies learned on the way to the scene that a vehicle arrived at the Jefferson Township Fire Department in Fayette County with a victim who had been shot.
That victim turned out to be Alexandra Goins.
Despite life-saving measures, the Fayette County Coroner pronounced Goins dead.
An investigation by the Madison County Sheriff's Office led to the arrest of 34-year-old Warnock in the days following the murder. He was booked at the Tri-County Regional Jail on charges of tampering with evidence and possessing weapons under disability.
According to records from Madison County Municipal Court, witnesses saw Warnock picking up spent bullet casings near the intersection of the shooting, which led to the felony charge of tampering with evidence.
Madison County Sheriff John Swaney confirmed to WTOL 11 sister station 10TV that Goins and Warnock were friends. The sheriff added that Goins was coming down to visit Warnock.
Alexandra's Goins was a single mother.
Her family has started an online fundraiser to help raise money for her son after mother's murder.
Click here if you would like to donate.
10TV contributed to this report.