Woman sentenced to life in prison: 'I didn't murder my mother'

Kevin Grasha - Cincinnati.com

January 9, 2017

A woman convicted of killing her 61-year-old mother and then trying to cover up the crime scene with bleach was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Nikole Flagg, 43, was found guilty last month in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court of charges including aggravated murder and abuse of a corpse.

Prosecutors said Flagg stabbed her mother, Myrvinia Lowe, multiple times in her Pleasant Ridge home and stole her car keys, cash, cellphone and credit cards. Lowe, an employee at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, was found dead April 12, 2015 after her son told police he couldn't get in touch with her.

At least twice during Monday's sentencing before Judge Steve Martin, Flagg said she was innocent of the charges. As deputies led her out of the courtroom, she said, "I didn't murder my mother." She then gave a phone number people could call with information.

Flagg pleaded guilty in 2003 to involuntary manslaughter and robbery charges in the shooting death of a man in his Corryville apartment. She was among three people charged in that case. She was sentenced to eight years in prison in that case.

Woman accused of killing mother held on $1M bond

By Tammy Mutasa -Wlwt.com

April 24, 2015

Nikole Flagg served 8 years for previous manslaughter.

CINCINNATI — A woman accused of murdering her mother was convicted in another killing 12 years ago.

Nikole Flagg, 41, was charged with aggravated murder and arraigned on $1 million bond Friday. Prosecutors said Flagg killed her mother, Myrvinia Lowe, 61, on April 10.

Flagg turned herself in to police Thursday.

Officers found Flagg's mother in her apartment on the 5700 Block of Montgomery Road in Pleasant Ridge.

Lowe's son, Maurice Allen, asked police to check on her after calling his mother's cellphone and hearing an odd message on her voicemail.

“Devastated, angry, hurt, I mean she took the best person in the world,” Allen said. "I don't understand. I can't wrap my mind around it right now.”

Prosecutors believe Flagg was trying to rob her mother, but killed her in the process.

Flagg has not been convicted of killing her mom, but Shamez Brown is already convinced. Twelve years ago, Flagg admitted she helped her husband and another man rob and kill Brown's uncle, Jeffrey Brown, 42.

Flagg let the men into Jeffrey Brown’s Corryville apartment, then they shot and killed Jeffrey Brown.

"She should never ever be allowed on the streets ever again in life,” Shamez Brown said. “We are clearly broken without him here. He was a piece of the puzzle that kept our family together, so I think justice needs to be served the proper way this time."

The Hamilton County Prosecutors Officer said Flagg struck a plea deal in Jeffrey Brown's murder in 2003.

Flagg admitted to aggravated robbery and involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to eight years in prison.

“A nutcase like this should never be allowed out. Ten years for my uncle was clearly not enough. You get more than that for robbing a bank,” Shamez Brown said.

Allen said his mom was a great mom and a hardworking woman. He said she worked at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for many years.

Flagg’s case will be sent to grand jury May 4.

Alleged killer: I've hurt a lot of people

Keith BieryGolick - Cincinnati.com

April 24, 2015

In 2010, Nikole Lowe wrote a letter to prison officials promising to give back to society if released.

It was near the end of her eight-year sentence for involuntary manslaughter, which she received after pleading down from aggravated murder in 2003.

"I will find a group so I can give back. I have hurt a lot of people so I have a lot of making up to do," Lowe said in the letter obtained by The Enquirer.

But her words turned out to be hollow, according to police, who say she stabbed her mother to death in a "violent" robbery earlier this month.

Police said the 41-year-old Lowe, whose last name is now Flagg, repeatedly stabbed her mother and stole a cell phone, credit cards and some cash from her Pleasant Ridge home earlier this month.

She was arrested on Thursday and charged with murder in the death of her 61-year-old mother, Myrvinia Lowe.

Lowe, an employee at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, was found dead April 12 after her son told police he couldn't get in touch with her.

Wearing a baseball hat covering most of her face, Flagg shook her head as officials read the accusations against her in court Friday morning.

Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge William Mallory Jr. set her bond at $1 million, in part because of her previous conviction.

That conviction also started as a robbery, according to court documents, and it ended with a man shot to death in his Corryville apartment. Flagg told police she met the victim and allowed two other people inside his apartment before the shooting in 2002, according to court documents.

Flagg suffers from bipolar disorder, according to her most recent arrest slip, but it was not discussed in court.

She lived with her mom in Pleasant Ridge as recently as September, according to court documents. It's unclear what happened since, but when she was arrested, police listed her address in Spring Grove Village.

Maurice Allen, Lowe's son who lives in Columbus, said in a 911 call he talks to his mom each day, but she stopped answering her home phone. When he called her cell phone, something strange happened.

"When I call her phone (her voice mail is) a recording of teenagers rapping," Allen told police earlier this month. "There are no teenagers in her household. I'm very concerned."

When police arrived at Lowe's home on Montgomery Road, they found music and lights on in her apartment, but no one answered the door.

Police entered through a window and found Lowe dead inside, according to a police report.

A Hamilton County grand jury is scheduled to hear evidence about the case May 4.

Police: Pleasant Ridge woman arrested in mother's death

WCPO.com

April 23, 2015

CINCINNATI -- Police arrested a woman Thursday they say stabbed her mother to death while trying to rob her at her Pleasant Ridge home.

According to police, 41-year-old Nikole Flagg could be responsible for the death of her mother, 61-year-old Myrvinia Lowe.

Police said on April 12, Cincinnati officers performed a welfare check at Lowe's home, located in the 5700 block of Montgomery Road. They said a relative who lives out of town requested the welfare check.

When officers entered the home, they found Lowe's body inside, according to police.

Police said Flagg fled the scene immediately after the killing took place.

Lowe was stabbed during the robbery attempt, according to Sgt. Miller of the Criminal Investigation Section.

Flagg is scheduled to be arraigned in Hamilton County Friday at 9 a.m.

Police: Odd message led to discovery of slain woman

Henry Molski and Emilie Eaton - Cincinnati.com

April 12, 2015

The son of a Pleasant Ridge woman found dead in her home Sunday grew concerned after he called his mother and heard an odd answering message on her phone, authorities said.

Maurice Allen called Cincinnati police around midnight on Sunday saying he hadn't been able to reach his mother, 61-year-old Myrvinia Lowe, since Saturday.

Allen, who lives in Columbus, told police he had called her home phone and there was no answer. He called her cell phone, but instead of the normal voicemail greeting, it had a message with juveniles rapping, according a police report.

"Mom and son talk frequently, and all of a sudden she went off grid," Sgt. Mike Miller said about the message. "Suspicion arose after the outgoing message changed."

Once police arrived at Lowe's home in the 5700 block of Montgomery Road, they noticed that music and lights were on in the apartment, according to the report. They looked through a window and deemed it necessary to enter the home.

Police entered the home through the window and found Lowe dead inside, according to the report. She had suffered from a "major injury" and a minor cut, according to the report.

Miller said that no one has been arrested in connection with the death, but police say there are people of interest.

Police are waiting on video records from cell phones to continue the investigation.

"The investigation is well in hand," Miller said.

Lowe worked at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.