Eugene Washington

Ronnie Robinson's Story

A Career Criminal Is Set Free

By the age of 28, Eugene Washington had an extensive criminal background. He had been arrested 21 times: twice for felonies and 19 times for misdemeanors. Washington also had a long history of threatening and abusing women.

On September 22, 1990, Washington went to his ex-girlfriend Kimberly Johnson’s home. They had separated a month earlier. When Washington arrived he confronted Kimberly Johnson and assaulted her. After the assault, Kimberly’s friends retaliated and injured Washington. Washington went to University Hospital and, while there, he was arrested by police on a domestic violence charge.

Although he was under arrest, Washington walked away from University Hospital. A few hours later, he was arrested by Cincinnati Police and was arrested on an escape charge as well as for the original domestic violence charge.

Washington was taken to the Justice Center, where he was held until November 13, 1990. During the time he was in custody, Washington made multiple calls to Kimberly and threatened to kill both her and her roommate, Ronnie Robinson. Washington knew that Kimberly and Ronnie were just friends. Ronnie’s girlfriend was pregnant and he was looking forward to raising his child.

On November 13, 1990, Washington appeared before Judge Gilbert Bettman. Rather than keep Washington in jail, Bettman released Washington on an OR (Own Recognizance) bond. Washington was released after he promised to return to court the next day at 3:30 p.m.

Threats Lead To Murder

After he was released, Washington went straight to Kimberly Johnson’s home. He forced his way into the house and grabbed the hammer that Kimberly kept on top of her refrigerator. He then hid under a quilt in a closet for the next 13 hours.

Kimberly and Ronnie returned home after a night out at around 12:30 a.m. Both were exhausted and eventually fell asleep in the living room.

At 4:30 a.m., Washington came out of the closet. He went straight to Ronnie Robinson and began smashing him in the head with the hammer. The noise woke a sleeping Kimberly Johnson. Johnson stated, “I heard a thump … I turned over and saw Eugene striking Ronnie in the head with a hammer. He (Ronnie) was moaning and groaning. I could hear him breathing.”

Washington noticed that Kimberly was awake. Kimberly stated that Washington told her, “If I tried anything, I would be next. He said he was going to bury the body and no one will ever know what happened.” Kimberly told Washington she would cover for him by telling police that Ronnie was killed by an unknown intruder who broke into the apartment and stole a video camera.

Kimberly and Washington then left the apartment. Kimberly was able to get away from Washington and went to a relative’s house. She called police, who arrested Washington. Ronnie was taken to University Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. He never got to see his child.

Eugene Washington was convicted and found guilty of the original escape charge. He was also convicted of murder for killing Ronnie Robinson. Washington was sentenced life in prison.

No Parole

Eugene Washington is a career criminal who has an extensive criminal background. Washington also has a history of abusing women. Washington caught a huge break when he was released on escape and domestic violence charges with the simple stipulation that he return to court the next day. Rather than take advantage of his huge break, Washington went straight to the home of Kimberly Johnson, the same women he assaulted in the domestic violence charge, and beat her roommate Ronnie Robinson to death with a hammer while he slept.

To this day, Washington has never apologized or shown any remorse from his crimes. He also continues to threaten Kimberly Johnson from prison. We are certain releasing Eugene Washington at any point will pose a serious risk to both Kimberly Johnson and the community. Based on the facts that Eugene Washington brutally murdered an innocent man in his sleep with a hammer, has spent most of his life committing crimes, has openly threatened the life of the only surviving witness to the crime, and has expressed absolutely no remorse, we believe that to further the interests of justice, Washington should serve his maximum sentence of life in prison.