Jury reaches verdict in trial for man accused of teen girlfriend's murder

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - The jury has reached a verdict in the trial of a man accused in the beating death of his teenage girlfriend.

William Arnold faced charges of murder, felonious assault, kidnapping, abduction and tampering with evidence. He was found not guilty of murder or kidnapping, but he was found guilty of reckless homicide and felonious assault, along with abduction and tampering with evidence.

Investigators say Arnold is a master of getting away with crimes. Hailey Hall's mother says he's done it again. This time, it's murder. And one detective expressed disappointment in the jury's decision.

Detective Charles Zopfi could have retired back in June, but he stayed on at the Cincinnati Police Department because he wanted to see a conviction in this case. Now, he's feeling disappointed because he thinks Hall deserved better.

Zopfi has been there every step of the way, waiting for Arnold to be convicted in the beating death of the 16-year-old.

"I'm devastated," he said.

That's the same feeling Hall's best friend has.

"We waited two-and-a-half years to get justice, and they let him walk away with reckless homicide. It's not fair," said Liz Bowman.

Arnold is now facing 20 years behind bars instead of the 15 to life he would have been facing if the jury found him guilty of murder.

"William Arnold is an animal. William Arnold is a coward," said Zopfi.

Zopfi took this case personally.

"I knew William Arnold before this. I know the savagery he was capable of. I knew that he was a drug dealer, that he preyed on people's weaknesses before this," he said.

Hall was just 16 years old when she was killed. Arnold, a convicted drug dealer, is 34 years old. He was dating Hall at the time of her death.

"His record speaks for itself, and in this case, that's why it took so long to make sure we had everything in place," said Zopfi.

Zopfi says, while he respects the jury's decision, he's puzzled.

"The fact that the jury found him guilty of causing the very injuries that caused her death but did not find him guilty of murder is something that I just don't understand," he said.

Hall's mother said she feels like a killer will be back walking on the streets.

Arnold will be sentenced on Oct. 29. He's currently serving a four-year sentence for a drug conviction.