An Ohio man has been charged in the death of his pregnant girlfriend after police said she was struck by a car during an argument at a riverfront parking lot, a case that also alleges the unlawful termination of her pregnancy and has lingered for months while investigators reviewed what happened.
Cameron Martin, 20, was arrested over the weekend on a secret grand jury indictment that accuses him of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated vehicular homicide in the death of 21 year old Stephanie Householder, authorities said. Police have described the incident as occurring as the couple fought inside a car near Broadway Wharf, a public area along the Ohio River. Investigators initially said they did not believe she was struck on purpose, but prosecutors later sought felony charges after the woman and her unborn child died from injuries suffered in the parking lot.
The indictment alleges Martin caused Householder’s death on July 19, 2025, at Broadway Wharf, a community gathering spot in East Liverpool near the Pennsylvania border. East Liverpool police said the couple argued in the vehicle and that Householder got out while Martin remained behind the wheel. Police Chief John Lane said Martin told investigators he watched Householder in the mirror as she moved behind the car, then began backing out and struck her. A 911 caller reported a woman had been hit, Lane said, and officers arrived to find Householder lying on the ground in front of a vehicle with Martin kneeling near her.
Householder was airlifted to a hospital in Pittsburgh, authorities said, where she and her unborn child died shortly after arriving. Early police statements described the incident as a relationship dispute that ended in a collision, and investigators said Martin cooperated by providing a written statement and turning over his phone. Lane said at the time that detectives were still working to determine whether the crash was accidental or intentional. Prosecutors have not publicly outlined what evidence led the grand jury to issue felony counts, but the indictment alleges Martin acted recklessly while operating the vehicle and that his conduct resulted in both the woman’s death and the termination of her pregnancy.
Martin faces two counts of involuntary manslaughter, first degree felonies, and two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, third degree felonies, according to reports based on court records. The indictment also alleges he was responsible for the unlawful termination of Householder’s pregnancy, a claim that reflects the unborn child’s death alongside the mother’s. Prosecutors have not released details about the stage of pregnancy or whether medical examiners determined the precise cause of death beyond injuries from being struck by a vehicle. Police have also not said whether alcohol or drugs were suspected, whether Martin was cited for any traffic offenses at the scene, or whether surveillance video captured the moment she was hit.
The case drew renewed attention because of what happened the day after Householder died. Lane said Martin returned to the wharf parking lot to hold a candlelight vigil for her, a gathering that drew family, friends and community members who were grieving and angry. Lane said the event quickly became hostile when Martin arrived. He told a television station in July 2025 that the vigil did not go well and that people were ordered to leave as it nearly became a riot. Police have not said whether any arrests were made at the vigil or whether officers issued citations, but Lane’s comments suggested the gathering was shut down to prevent violence.
Authorities have not described what Martin did after the crash in the hours and days that followed, other than saying he cooperated with investigators. Law enforcement also has not publicly explained why charges were not filed immediately, a delay that can happen in fatal crash investigations that involve medical records, accident reconstruction, digital evidence and witness interviews. In this case, local officials said the matter was sent to the Columbiana County prosecutor’s office for review and potential presentation to a grand jury. The secret indictment indicates prosecutors ultimately chose criminal charges rather than treating the death as solely a traffic matter.
Broadway Wharf is a paved lot and open area used for festivals, riverfront events and casual visits, and it sits near downtown East Liverpool. Police did not release a detailed diagram of where Householder was standing when she was hit, whether she was directly behind the vehicle or crossing behind it, or whether other people were nearby. Lane said Martin told police he saw her in the mirror but still backed out, a statement that investigators have treated as important to understanding the seconds before impact. Police also have not said how fast the vehicle was moving, whether the tires left marks, or whether Householder was dragged or pinned.
Householder’s death also left a family grieving two losses at once, and relatives in earlier coverage described anger and disbelief as they tried to understand how an argument ended with fatal injuries. Community members organized support efforts in the months after the crash, and local reporting described events meant to raise funds for Householder’s family. At the same time, police continued to treat the case as an investigation rather than a closed accident report, and officials said they were waiting on the legal process that would decide whether Martin’s actions amounted to crimes.
Martin is being held in the Columbiana County jail on a $100,000 cash or surety bond, according to Law and Crime and local reports. He is scheduled for an arraignment on Feb. 26 in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court before Judge Scott Washam, where he is expected to enter pleas to the felony counts. Prosecutors have not announced whether they will seek additional charges or whether they believe the evidence supports a claim that Martin intentionally struck Householder. Lane’s earlier comments emphasized uncertainty about intent, but the indictment’s use of recklessness language suggests the grand jury focused on whether Martin’s driving created a known and unjustifiable risk.
Ohio law distinguishes between reckless conduct and purposeful conduct, and the charges in this case reflect that line. Involuntary manslaughter generally alleges a death occurred during the commission of certain unlawful acts, while aggravated vehicular homicide can apply when a driver’s conduct is reckless and results in a fatality. The indictment language described in local reports also references an alleged attempt to commit aggravated vehicular assault, which prosecutors can use to frame the driving as more than a mistake. Officials have not said what arguments they expect to make at trial, and Martin’s attorneys have not publicly addressed the allegations in the indictment.
The case has also become a flashpoint for broader community tension that was visible at the vigil. Lane’s description of the gathering suggests people were furious at the idea that Martin would organize or attend a memorial so soon after police identified him as the driver. Friends and relatives have described Householder as a young woman preparing for motherhood, and local reports after the crash said the family believed her death was more than an accident. Police have not released a formal statement addressing the family’s claims, but the grand jury action indicates prosecutors believe they have enough evidence to proceed with serious felony counts.
Investigators have not disclosed whether crash reconstruction experts determined the vehicle’s path, whether phone records show messages between Martin and Householder shortly before the crash, or whether Martin was distracted while backing up. Police also have not said whether the vehicle’s rear camera or sensors were working or if the car had any mechanical issues. Those details often become central at court hearings, where prosecutors and defense lawyers argue about whether the driver could see the victim, how predictable the victim’s movement was, and whether the driver took reasonable steps to avoid harm.
For East Liverpool, a small city in eastern Ohio, the case has sat at the intersection of grief, public anger and the slow pace of the criminal justice system. Broadway Wharf is a visible public location, and the idea that a death occurred there during daylight hours unsettled residents who use the area regularly. Police have continued to urge the public to avoid speculation and allow the court process to play out, but Lane’s public comments about the vigil underscored how emotional the case became almost immediately.
As the case moves into court, the next steps are expected to include an arraignment, bond review and pretrial hearings where attorneys may challenge evidence and seek details about the state’s reconstruction of the crash. If Martin pleads not guilty, the court will set schedules for discovery and motions, and prosecutors will decide whether to offer any plea agreement or pursue the case to trial. Officials have not announced a trial date, and the court calendar will determine how quickly the case advances.
Martin remains in custody as the investigation transitions into a prosecution, and the next milestone is his Feb. 26 arraignment in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court. Prosecutors and police have said they expect to provide additional information through court filings as the case proceeds and as the family prepares for the first major hearing tied to the indictment.
Author note: Last updated February 11, 2026.