SIDNEY — A dispute over a text message has left a Sidney teen dead and another teen charged with murder.
According to Sidney Police Department Capt. Jerry Tangeman, Sidney first responders were dispatched to 701 Dingman St. Thursday, April 30 2020, at approximately 10:17 p.m. in regards to a stabbing. Upon arrival officers found Cody Powers, 15-year-old, with a serious knife wound to his stomach area.
Powers was transported to Wilson Health for initial treatment and then transferred to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. He died as a result of his injury.
The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office hasn’t released a specific cause of death.
Detectives responded and an investigative operation was initiated. After speaking with witnesses, detectives learned the 15-year-old victim, who resided at the Dingman residence, was allegedly stabbed by another 15-year-old boy who went to the Dingman residence along with three others to challenge the victim and an acquaintance of the victim to a fight.
The suspect was allegedly upset about a disrespectful text message that was sent to the suspect’s girlfriend. As a result of the incident the 15-year-old suspect was charged with one count of murder. The youth suspect was transported to West Central Juvenile Detention Facility in Troy.
The name of the suspect has not been released.
Sidney City Schools is reaching out to the students and parents in the district.
“Today is a tragedy with the death of one of our students. We want to be sure that our students, parents, and community members that need support and need to speak with someone has helpful information,” said Tiffany Rank, communications director in the release. “You can call on of the following: Crisis Response Hotline: 800-351-7347; Frontline Warmline: 937-423-6320 (counselors available starting at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday) or Text Line: Text 4HOPE to 741741
“Also, Sidney City Schools school counselors will be available by phone Monday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please call the middle school at 937-497-2225 to speak with a Sidney City Schools counselor,” she said. “Sidney City Schools would like to express our condolences to the friends and family of Cody Powers.”
