EATON, OH – A judge has set bail at $1 million for a man charged with murder after allegedly attacking a woman with a machete. The incident occurred when the woman was riding on a motorcycle in Preble County.
The suspect, Kenneth Brayban, appeared in court Wednesday, where he attempted to apologize but was quickly advised by the judge to remain silent about the case. His defense team also reacted audibly to his comments.
The victim, Leah Huff, had been in Middletown and was heading back to Eaton on a motorcycle driven by a man she knew. As they passed Brayban’s residence on Upper Smers Road, deputies say he confronted them, slashing Huff with a machete. The rider rushed back to a nearby friend’s house to call 911, but emergency responders were unable to save her.
Investigators revealed that just minutes before the attack, Brayban’s daughter had called dispatchers, reporting her ex-boyfriend was riding up and down the road, revving his motorcycle to provoke her father. However, authorities have clarified that Huff and Brayban were strangers.
Court documents state that after the attack, Brayban attempted to clean the machete and hide it in nearby woods. He is the only individual facing charges in this case.
Efforts to reach Huff’s family and friends for comment have been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Brayban’s legal representatives declined to comment on the proceedings.
If Brayban manages to post bail, the judge has stipulated that he will be placed under house arrest with a GPS ankle monitor.