On January 1, 2025, Olivia Clendenin, 29, from Franklin, Ohio, discovered her estranged husband and boyfriend were both at a New Year's Eve party at a house on Dearth Road, Clearcreek Township, Warren County. After failing to convince her husband to leave, she returned armed with a .40-caliber handgun and fired eight shots from her vehicle toward the house. One bullet struck an innocent male bystander, Daniel, in the abdomen, who was not involved in the relationship dispute. Clendenin fled but crashed her car shortly after and was arrested. In February 2026, she was convicted of attempted murder, felonious assault, and illegal discharge of a firearm. Sentencing is pending.
Country: United States
State/Province: Ohio, United States
City/Region: Clearcreek Township
Incident Type: Attempted Murder
Relationship Status: Separated
Relationship Duration: Approximately 3 years (relationship with ex-boyfriend since summer 2022; marriage status with husban
Incident Date: Jan. 1, 2025
Relationship Origins:
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How the relationship or connection began.
Approximately 3 years (relationship with ex-boyfriend since summer 2022; marriage status with husban
Important relationship phases recorded for this case.
Reported red flags or early concern points.
Contributing factors and possible motives from the available sources.
2025-01-01
Recorded relationship or case outcome.
English labels are shown first. Original-language titles are preserved for source verification.
Controversial Crimes Media · Original language: English
LOVE TRIANGLE - Olivia Clendenin: Interrogation Shooting Conviction – Attempted Murder Case
Love triangle
The case involves a love triangle with Olivia Clendenin caught between her estranged husband and ex-boyfriend. The conflict escalated due to jealousy, bullying, and manipulation by involved parties and their friends, culminating in a violent shooting incident. Alcohol use and emotional distress contributed to the escalation. The innocent bystander being shot highlights the collateral risk in such domestic disputes.
Olivia Clendenin was arrested after a car crash following the shooting. She was convicted by a Warren County jury in early February 2026 of attempted murder, felonious assault, and illegal discharge of a firearm with firearm specifications. Sentencing is pending a pre-sentence investigation. The victim Daniel remains on life support. The investigation confirmed the gun was given to Olivia by her ex-boyfriend Cory Hafler to scare others. The case highlights the complexity of love triangle dynamics and the involvement of third parties.
Initial confusion about who was shot and the involvement of Olivia in the shooting. Olivia initially denied knowledge of the shooting victim. The role of the mother-in-law and the exact sequence of events at the party and shooting were clarified during interrogation.
Olivia attended a New Year's Eve party where both her estranged husband Zack and ex-boyfriend Cory were present. After a confrontation and failed attempts to separate the men, Cory gave Olivia a gun to scare others. Olivia fired shots from her vehicle toward the house, unintentionally hitting Daniel, an innocent bystander. She fled the scene but crashed her car shortly after and was arrested. The investigation and trial established the sequence, motives, and roles of involved parties leading to her conviction.
High risk due to presence of firearms, escalating emotional conflict, jealousy, and prior domestic disputes. The involvement of multiple romantic partners and bullying by third parties increased volatility.
Love triangles can escalate rapidly into violence, especially when combined with alcohol use and bullying by third parties. Access to firearms significantly increases risk. Emotional distress and feelings of isolation can precipitate impulsive violent acts. Early intervention in domestic conflicts and monitoring of escalating behaviors are critical.
The presence of a love triangle, bullying and manipulation by friends, escalating fights, and alcohol consumption were early signals of potential violence.
Olivia's admission of rage, the gun being handed to her by Cory, and the presence of both romantic partners at the same party helped connect the case.
Testimony from Olivia during interrogation, physical evidence of the gun and bullet wounds, and witness accounts of the party and shooting were strongest.
Not reported.
Follow-up reports clarified Olivia's role, the involvement of the mother-in-law, and confirmed the victim's condition and legal outcomes.
Exact survival chances of the victim Daniel remain unknown; full details of the mother-in-law's involvement and subsequent actions are unclear.