In 2003, Marlon Duane Kiser was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death for the killing of Hamilton County Deputy Donald Bond Jr., who was shot multiple times while investigating suspicious activity in a parking lot. The crime shocked the local community and quickly drew intense media attention. Prosecutors argued that Kiser ambushed the officer in cold blood, presenting circumstantial evidence and testimony to secure a death sentence.
However, throughout the investigation, trial, and the years that followed, Kiser has adamantly maintained his innocence. He has repeatedly stated that he did not kill Deputy Bond and that he was wrongfully accused and convicted. Central to his claims is the belief that he was framed by his former roommate, James Michael Chattin. According to Kiser, the two had a deeply strained relationship that grew increasingly hostile due to personal disputes, particularly involving Chattin’s wife. Kiser has alleged that Chattin held a grudge against him, and this animosity ultimately led Chattin to orchestrate a scheme to pin the murder on him.
Over the years, Kiser and his legal team have argued that crucial pieces of evidence were either mishandled or ignored during the initial investigation. One of the most pressing points of concern has been the existence of untested fingerprints found at the crime scene. For years, Kiser has pleaded with the courts to allow advanced forensic testing on this physical evidence, believing it could either confirm his innocence or cast significant doubt on the prosecution’s original case.
Despite multiple setbacks, legal barriers, and years on death row, Kiser has never wavered in his demand for further investigation—particularly into the fingerprints that were never analyzed using modern forensic techniques. His supporters argue that his case reflects broader issues within the criminal justice system, including the mishandling of evidence, rushed judgments, and the potential for wrongful convictions, especially in capital cases.
Now, more than two decades after the murder, Kiser has finally received the results of the fingerprint testing he long requested—an outcome that could play a pivotal role in reexamining the integrity of the case against him. Whether or not the results will be enough to reopen his case or alter the course of his sentence remains uncertain, but for Kiser and those who believe in his innocence, the testing represents a long-overdue step toward truth and justice.
