18-year-old Independence man accused of killing family member with ‘drinking tumbler’

ERLANGER, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — A man from Independence was charged on Tuesday afternoon after an alleged family dispute turned deadly.

Court documents show that officers from the Erlanger Police Department (EPD) were dispatched around 2 p.m. Wednesday to the 100 block of Ridgewood Drive in response to reports of an assault.

A news release from Erlanger police showed that when officers arrived at the home, 18-year-old Wyatt Testerman of Independence was found outside. The victim, 74-year-old Cheri Oliver, was found inside with severe head trauma.

Authorities said emergency crews took Oliver to a Cincinnati hospital where she was declared dead from her injuries.

The EPD said that “a dispute between family members” had occurred on Tuesday before the time of Oliver’s death.

According to a uniform citation, witnesses at the scene told law enforcement that Testerman “became violent for no apparent reason,” and reportedly struck Oliver multiple times with his fist, and a “metal drinking tumbler.”

Testerman was charged with murder and lodged at the Kenton County Detention Center on Tuesday. He allegedly admitted to his arresting officer that he hit Oliver repeatedly with his hands and a tumbler, per court documents.

An investigation into the dispute remains ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to call the Kenton County dispatch at (859) 356-3191. Police said there is no current threat to the public.

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