Charges dropped in fatal dispute case

LANCASTER — Charges have been dropped against a woman involved in a fatal domestic dispute Sunday night in Bloom Township.

Angela Luke, 40, a school teacher at Tussing Elementary School in Pickerington, had been facing charges of reckless homicide and aggravated vehicular homicide, both third-degree felonies, in connection with the death of her husband, Daniel Luke, 42.

David Ball, public relations director for Pickerington Schools, said Angela Luke has been fully reinstated at the school since the charges were dismissed on Wednesday. Prior to the dismissal of charges, the school district had already decided to reinstate Angela Luke's pay after school officials listened to the 911 call and consulted its attorney, Ball said.

Police said the two were involved in a dispute Sunday night at their home on Alspach Road and that Angela Luke was driving away when she hit her husband with her car.

A 911 call made by the couple's 12-year-old child revealed that the child had called to ask police to come because her father was attacking her mother. Eventually, Angela Luke got her two children into the car and police could hear the children urging her to drive away, but Daniel Luke was apparently hanging onto the car, fell and was struck. He was taken to Diley Ridge Medical Center, where he later died.

A document filed Monday afternoon with the Fairfield County Municipal Court indicates the charges were dropped, but in such a way that they could be refiled or the case could go to a grand jury for possible indictment.

Earlier in the day, Fairfield County Prosecutor Gregg Marx issued a news release stating he was personally reviewing the case and that it could take at least 30 days. He said then he would not comment further on the case and made no mention of the charges being dropped.