Leigha Huff dies in fatal Preble County, Ohio motorcycle incident
Fatal Preble County, Ohio assault and homicide investigation involving Leigha Huff
A man faces charges related to a fatal stabbing after the alleged attack occurred while a woman was riding a motorcycle on a rural road in the county.
Deputies responded to reports of a severe injury on Aukerman Creek Road just before 10:32 p.m. Sunday, following an incident on Upper Sommes Road near Camden. A motorcyclist reported seeing a man running and allegedly striking their vehicle with a machete before suffering a severe cut on their leg.
The injured woman, identified as 41-year-old Leigha Huff, was transported to the scene and pronounced deceased at the residence. Authorities secured a search warrant at a nearby property and recovered a suspected weapon, a machete.
Leigha Huff, 41, sustained critical injuries during what authorities described as a violent encounter. The man involved reportedly used the weapon against the motorcyclist after hearing the approaching motorcycle, according to preliminary statements and affidavits.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived promptly to find the motorcyclist suffering a severe laceration. The driver had allegedly accelerated to pass the suspect, prompting the alleged attack. Following the incident, the man drove the injured woman to a nearby house.
The suspect, identified as Kenneth W. Brabant, 59, was located and arrested shortly after the attack. Initial statements from Brabant suggested he believed the motorcycle was speeding and acted defensively.
Investigators secured a search warrant at an Upper Sommes Road address, where they reportedly found the weapon. Brabant allegedly attempted to conceal the machete by hiding it in nearby woods after the incident.
Brabant was booked into the Preble County Jail. He currently faces multiple charges including two counts each of aggravated murder and felonious assault, along with counts of tampering with evidence and attempt to commit an offense. The specifics of his initial statements regarding the incident vary from his later recorded statements and the evidence presented during booking.
