 Margaret Chain | At 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 3, 1997, customers of a Sunoco Mini Mart in Miami Twp discovered the body of manager Margaret T. "Peggy" Chain, who had been shot twice in the head. The next day, two teenage males were arrested in the slaying. Bryan Keith Singleton, 18 at the time of the murder, was convicted as the shooter and will not be eligible for parole until he is 79. Jacob Agee, 16 at the time, later pleaded guilty to murder and will serve at least 21 years. |  Agee  Singleton |
Chronology:Thursday, April 3, 1997- 4:30 a.m. - Margaret `Peggy' Chain last seen- 4:38 a.m. - Miami Twp. Police dispatcher receives a 911 call from acashier at Denver's Marathon across from Sunoco; Chain's body had been foundin the rear of the store in the cashier's cage by three regular customers;they run to Marathon for help. - 4:56 a.m. - Chain is pronounced dead. Friday, April 4- 6:10 a.m. - Moraine and West Carrollton police assist Miami Twp. policeand pick up 16-year-old Jacob Agee for questioning at a Moraine doughnut shopon South Dixie Drive.- Afternoon - 18-year-old Bryan Keith Singleton is questioned by Miami Twp.detectives. With him are his parents. Singleton makes a confession todetectives Todd Comer and Scott Moore. - Late afternoon - Agee and Singleton are taken to Montgomery CountyJuvenile Detention Center and county jail, respectively, on a 48-hour holdingorder. Sunday, April 6- Afternoon - Provisional charges of aggravated murder are filed againstSingleton, allowing him to be held in jail until formal charges can be filedMonday; bail is set at $1 million cash.Monday, April 7- Singleton and Agee are formally charged with aggravated murder withfirearm specifications and aggravated robbery; Singleton also is charged withfirearm possession while being under indictment for a 1996 felonious assault.Wednesday, April 9- Grand jury hears prosecutors' case against Singleton.Friday, April 11- Grand jury indicts Singleton on four counts, including aggravated murderwith a deadly weapon and three aggravating circumstances; aggravated robberywith a deadly weapon; aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon; and havingweapons while under disability. Because of the aggravated circumstances,Singleton could be sentenced to the death penalty if found guilty.Saturday, December 13- Singleton escaped the death penalty, but was sentenced by a three-judge panel to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 30 years.With additional prison time for other charges, he will not be eligible for parole until he is 79 years old.Saturday, March 21, 1998- Agee pleaded guilty to murder and two other felonies, guaranteeing he will serve at least 21 years inprison. | Selected Dayton Daily News stories:GAS STATION CASHIER, 57, SHOT TO DEATHPublished: Friday, April 4, 1997 Page: 1B By Cathy Mong Dayton Daily News MIAMI TWP. COURT JUDGE RULES TEEN-AGER WILL BE TRIED ASADULT SINGLETON GETS LIFE TEEN PLEADS TO MURDER
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