Johnny S. Clarke & Lisa Straub- young Ohio couple murdered

[justme]

Let's give Mustang a break! It took me forever to write about the opening staements and that was only an hour and a half long. Took a long time because I wanted to get everything right. Hopefully the Straub's didn't tell him to keep everything quiet. If they did --- who can blame them?

Yes---I was told this a.m. that the reason you have to be a list to observe the the trial IS because the Clarke's can't keep their mouths shut----really irritates me. My source will let me know if this policy changes.

[Older Than Dirt]

I wish that I could be of help! I'm tired of sitting here constantly reloading. Mustang opened a new business about 6 wks. ago. It can keep him busy from 11am until 3 AM. That's a lot of hours. He might not have gotten much sleep before heading to the court house. He could be swamped now. Or, maybe he is with the Straubs comparing notes. I too am very anxious! l

[Lady Cop]

Mustang, take your time to gather your thoughts, take care of your own business/life, and we appreciate you whenever you give us a report! you are under no obligation or on the clock. thankyou very much Mustang.

[misshmarie23]

about the single cigarette butt...


i don't think it is a stretch at all that these two went out and shared a smoke...

But why smoke it outside?

Were they aware of the house rules that you couldn't smoke inside? And even so...would burglars/murderers who would ransack a house and kill its inhabitants decide to respectfully smoke outdoors?

Did they smoke on the way in for courage? Or on the way out?

Are smokers so well trained not to smoke inside that they automatically follow such rules?

Or were they the lookouts -- standing watch in the garage while the murders went on inside?

or they went out side to the garage to find something they could use to kill Js & Ls and while they was discussing a plan they split a cig. maybe thats when they seen the bags and desided to use them. theres lots of different things that could have happen i just hope they can tell use most likely what did.

[Butterfly Girl]

Evidence presented in Clarke-Straub murder trials........ 2 VIDEOS AND STORY

video 1 http://www.toledonewsnow.com/story/19091...der-trials

video 2 http://www.toledonewsnow.com/story/19091...der-trials


There is a picture of the cigarette butt it appears to be on a hardwood floor near door.

[soothsayer]

or they went out side to the garage to find something they could use to kill Js & Ls and while they was discussing a plan they split a cig. maybe thats when they seen the bags and desided to use them. theres lots of different things that could have happen i just hope they can tell use most likely what did.

Ok, good one. But then someone else is subduing Johnny and Lisa while these two look around? They brought tape, after all, so aren't looking for that. You'd think a garage would have a wealth of weaponry -- but then so would a kitchen. Dunno.

I do wonder what the official theory is. Having a hard time seeing these guys as the brains behind the whole ordeal.

[soothsayer]

There is a picture of the cigarette butt it appears to be on a hardwood floor near door.

Ok, sounds like definitely found inside the kitchen.

Such an unexpected line of questioning. "So did you tell them not to smoke inside the house?" Seems so minor compared to other things that went on in the house. They didn't ask, "did you tell them not to buy or sell drugs inside the house?"

[NightOwl]

DickTray, Post 21039 Great Job! I love the bright green you used and the blue is awesome! Video was yellow.

We keep getting repetitive news, and mini sound bites of this and snippets of that we are scraping for news!

The photographs of Mr & Mrs Straub what a lovely couple!

[Adub]

Why didn't you bloody tell everybody on Mock back then, we wait until he's a witness to find all this out! and by the way I mentioned Thomas Nutter being partnered up with Cousino you say No it's Frost Daddy
who is Frost Daddy? or is that an Adub secret just like all the info above

Everything I know, I have facebook to thank. Much of which is no longer available. But yeah, I'm sure I posted what I knew of the home where the fb photos were taken. It was VD's brother's house.

Besides, it was obvious that VD, BA, and ZB were a few years younger than Johnny.

And somewhere back in time, LC posted a picture of Jack Frost (aka Dashawn Belcher) .

[HairOfTheDog]

DickTray, Post 21039 Great Job! I love the bright green you used and the blue is awesome! Video was yellow.

We keep getting repetitive news, and mini sound bites of this and snippets of that we are scraping for news!

The photographs of Mr & Mrs Straub what a lovely couple!

I agree, NightOwl.

I'm really thankful for those of you that are all over the case, including those that are weighing in locally. Mock is the only place that I can keep up on this case and it really is the best place to get the real scoop (and lots of opinions, too). Much appreciated.

[aileen]

I have to say, having now seen photos of the Straub's...I feel almost guilty, like we've intruded on their lives, because now everyone knows what they look like. Part of me thinks they would rather have stayed unknown and kept their privacy. If that makes any sense?

I don't know how any parent can live through something like this. It's just so terribly heart breaking.

Praying for justice for Lisa & Johnny and peace for both their families.

[sharit]

Wonder why 13 does not have videos like their last ones?

[Older Than Dirt]

I have been constantly checking too!

[LoserCity]

Please check out Dick Tracy's Toledo Blade article typewritten in bright blue post #21008, re Dominguez.

Michael R Dominguez, Johnny's friend is not BA's boyfriend, VD was BA's boyfriend he's younger than Michael, this is the first time we've heard of Michael we've gone on about BA and VD. Just trying to keep things accurate.

All in all, it looks like the Dominguez brothers are an asset to Toledo. I have not see anything, other than the company they keep, to make me believe otherwise.

I could have this wrong, but isn't one of the Dominguez brothers Tiff's baby daddy? I recall reading the two of them airing some dirty laundry via facebook sometime last year and thought he was baby daddy #1, and is actually raising their son.

[Mustang]

So sorry to take so long to post when I know all of you are waiting. Older Than Dirt is right. I was at the Pettaway trial today, and I have been taking care of business since, even though I really wanted to let you all know what transpired.

Pettaway's trial ended at 4:47pm while William's lasted about 20 minutes longer. Judge Bates began by addressing the jury regarding the fact that he has heard that there may be a picketer outside the courthouse this week and reminding jurors they are not to consider anything not presented at trial. The judge also informed the jury that a juror had been excused due to a medical hardship in her family and seated an alternate juror as the new "Juror #9".

First witness was Jeff Straub. Dressed nicely in a button-down, long-sleeved shirt and tie, he looked like the responsible father he is. Calm and collected, prosecuting attorney Louis Kountaris asked him to describe his and Mary Beth's house rules regarding smoking in the house (NEVER allowed), damage noticed upon their return from st. Maarten to the garage/kitchen service door, front entry door and Lisa's bedroom door. He was asked what brand of beer he drank, and smiled as he said, "Natty Light."

Jeff was asked to describe his basement; finished with a pool table, ping pong table, small dry-bar with 4 stools, exercise machine, TV and two loveseats.

He was also asked if there were any items he or his wife found upon inspection of the home shortly after the crime that led them to call detectives. He responded that they had found some torn photographs and old cigarette butts in a trash can in the three-season room. He was also asked to identify a photo of a garage opener remote control found outside the home by investigators. He responded that he didn't know where it came from, but that it showed up in his kitchen (he assumed Lisa or a friend put it there) and he tried to program it to operate his opener but was unsuccessful. The opener was ultimately found outside the home in either the back- or side-yard, near the house.

He was asked if he had submitted to DNA testing and fingerprints and he said that he had. Finally, he was asked about currency, specifically Iraqi Dinar that he had in the home. He testified that he paid about $4,500 USD for just over $4 million Dinar as an investment, and that they were in envelopes under a dresser in his bedroom. Investigators found them, and they have been returned,

He was also asked to identify empty beer cans in the basement waste basket under the bar; Whether Lisa had parties while he was not home? (He surmised she may have but he didn't know for certain); If he had ever seen a digital scale in the house? (He hadn't); When would have been the last time he would have cleaned up and removed discarded cigarette butts from around the pool? (September); Why Johnny moved into their home? (he got kicked out of his); Whether Lisa's ex-boyfriend Ben Dennis had been violent? (he didn't know); When was the last time he saw Ben? (he called and asked if they would mind if he came to the funeral home to pay his respects. He did and expressed his condolences and according to Jeff seemed very sincere); Did he know Sarah Mettler or Sarah Stallcamp? (He knew Sarah Mettler as a good friend of Lisa all her life but had never heard of Sarah Stallcamp).

Cross examination provided nothing of import, but the defense did something I found rather tacky and outright rude: he handed Jeff an envelope and asked him to open it and remove its contents, which Jeff did. He asked him what the contents were, and Jeff replied that they were pieces of torn pictures. The defense attorney then asked Jeff to PIECE THE PHOTO'S TOGETHER on the rail in front of the witness stand! The jury waited what seemed like an eternity while Jeff moved jigsaw puzzle pieces of torn photos trying to reconstruct them, looking confused and moving, and moving again pieces until he finally gave up and said they look like Christmas photos from 2010. Then the attorney told Jeff he could put the back in the envelope, and as Jeff began to fumble with the pieces, must have realized what an ass he had been to the father of the victim and scooped up the pieces himself.

Mary Beth Straub was next and got basically the same questions, plus a few others; Did she have Bed Bath and Beyond bags in the home or garage?; (She did, having shopped there during the Christmas season); Could she identify a note outlining house rules she left for Lisa before departing on the cruise?; (Two of the three notes were hers. A third saying only, "Laundry Soap," was not one she left and not her writing); Did she know Sarah Mettler or Sarah Stallcamp? (Sarah Mettler is a very close and longtime friend of Lisa. She never heard of Sarah Stallcamp); Was she aware of anyone making threats to Johnny? (She wasn't).

Next-door neighbor Karen Florian testified that she heard nothing out of the ordinary the night of the murders until the commotion around 2:30am with Deputy's and Maytee/John Sr. She also said her husband had been at his office, returning home around 10:00pm and noticed nothing unusual at the Straub house. She testified that there used to sometimes be parties when Jeff and Mary Beth were away, but those hadn't happened since Lindsay Straub moved out. She noted that she could always tell when there was a party because her bedroom windows overlooked the Straub driveway and she could here commotion and car doors slamming. She heard nothing the night of the murder until the aforementioned commotion, and even though it was January, testified that she and her husband always slept with the bedroom windows open due to her husbands thyroid condition.

Michael Dominguez was called and testified that Johnny was at his house watching football on Jan. 30 from approximately 7:30pm until 9-9:30ish when he left to pick up Lisa from work. He knew Johnny was selling marijuana, and knew he was taking percocet, although he never saw him do it. He answered a defense question that, yes, he was aware that Johnny was, "on the out's," with Aaron Griffin. The defense attorney also asked if Dominguez had lied to the police. When Dominguez replied that he had not lied, he was asked if he realized that his interview had been taped. He said he did not know that, which prompted the attorney to ask if he wanted to reconsider his answer about whether he had lied. (The insinuation to the jury that he had lied was never followed up on, even though the transcript of the interview was in the attorney's hand, meaning to me that the attorney was trying to paint Dominguez as a liar by suggesting inference to the jury, or will have the interviewing officer on the stand later.)

Next was Sharrita Crumby. Not much here other than she admitted being to the Straubs home 2 or 3 times, the last being sometime before her birthday October 24. She smokes Newports, knows the house rules, and only smoked outside. She said Tiffany Williams called her the night of Jan. 30 asking for the number to reach her boyfriend, Reuben Ruez, which she refused ti give out. She did however, call Maytee and relate the story Tiffany told her about being unable to reach Johnny or Lisa after being abruptly cut off after calling Johnny and hearing an argument with an unknown male.

After a lunch break and before the jury was brought back, Judge Bates addressed the gallery. He said there had been some type of altercation between family members and that such conduct would not be tolerated. Anyone who cannot conduct themselves as adults will be banned from the proceedings. Try as I might, including asking John Sr.'s father, John Sr. (the 1^st???), I was unable to find out what had happened during the break.

Christ, now I'm told my post is too long.. Gonna have to do this in two parts.

[Mustang]

Tiffany Williams was called. What a piece of work she is! She testified that she, along with Johnny, Lisa and Zach Burkett (with whom she lived at his grandmothers house) were all addicted to Percocet. Johnny, Lisa and Zach preferred to crush and snort the drug, while she swallowed the pills. She recounted the phone conversation with Johnny that was abruptly halted by Johnny telling her he'd call her back (which, of course he never did) and walked through her version of what she and Zach did the day of Jan. 30 and early morning of Jan. 31. She said she tried calling Johnny back at least 30 times, as well as 20 or so attempts to reach Lisa. Her calls rang and rang at first, but then went straight to voicemail, as though the phones were turned off. She convinced Zach (who she described as just a friend; Aaron A.P. Griffin was her boyfriend and babydaddy) to drive to the Straub house to check on them. She got no response at the door, even though lights were on throughout the house, upstairs and downstairs, and didn't even hear their dog. She called Sharrita for the number of her boyfriend, Reuben (Johnny's besgt friend) and she refused to give it to her. Tiffany decided to drive back toward Maytees house to see if Johnny and Lisa had gone there, and also drove by another friend's house, Victor, to see if they were there. They were not. Zach was able to recall that he had Reuben's number in an old phone at his home and called his mother to retrieve it for him He called Reuben, who then called Maytee. Shortly thereafter Tiffany got a call from Johnny's dad. She said she was going back to the Straub's and he was welcome to go along. They picked up John Sr. (the 2^nd?) and headed to Springfield Twp. Upon turning onto the Straub's street they could see police cars at the Straub's. John Sr. informed told her to turn around because he had a warrant, but she said she later figured it really because he had a gun. During cross examination, the defense attorney asked if she meant that Sr. was a convicted felon and that possessing a gun was a felony? The prosecution objected, and was sustained, but the toothpaste was already out of the tube at that point and the jury can't "un-hear" it. Tiffany further testified that she was 4 mos. pregnant and still doing up to 4 Percocet a day at the time. The defense asked if she was aware that Johnny was convinced that A.P. was going to try to, "rip him off?" After an objection to the question was sustained, Tiffany didn't answer. Finally, the defense asked how Tiffany heard what happened top Johnny and Lisa. She responded that she got a call from a friend, Tony Watson. When the defense asked if it was true that Tony told her, "I guarantee my brother Chris did it." the prosecution objected and the Judge called the lawyers and defendant into chambers. When they emerged the defense announced they had no further questions and Tiffany was dismissed. But again, toothpaste already out of the tube...

I'm sorry folks. There's more. From three sheriff's deputy's that responded to calls at the house that night, and better yet from Zach Burkett. But for a guy whose typing skills are limited, going on 3 hours sleep and an 8 hour trial, I've got to catch up on some work. Chew on what I have so far and I'll try to answer questions to fill in the blanks until I have a chance to finish. Sorry for any typo's but I think i"m seeing double right now. I'll be back in court tomorrow. Not sure which trial. To OTD, sorry I haven't called you yet. I will.

[NightOwl]

Why didn't you bloody tell everybody on Mock back then, we wait until he's a witness to find all this out! and by the way I mentioned Thomas Nutter being partnered up with Cousino you say No it's Frost Daddy
who is Frost Daddy? or is that an Adub secret just like all the info above

Everything I know, I have facebook to thank. Much of which is no longer available. But yeah, I'm sure I posted what I knew of the home where the fb photos were taken. It was VD's brother's house.

Besides, it was obvious that VD, BA, and ZB were a few years younger than Johnny.

And somewhere back in time, LC posted a picture of Jack Frost (aka Dashawn Belcher) .

Found it! here is the link http://http://mockforums.net/thread-4737-page-1374.html

Adub is this the dude she was with January 2011? the next post is NightOwl they plead no contest, and then Dashawn got shot when someone sprayed bullets.

[HairOfTheDog]

Mustang,

I barely post in this thread; just read and follow the case.

I'm riveted by your posts tonight. Thank you very much for reporting back.

P.s. The part about Big John, is well, just so "this case".

Justice for Johnny and Lisa - appreciate you keeping us posted as much as you can without forfeiting sleep and food!

[JsMom]

Marvelous Job, Mustang.

[tlynne]

Have been waiting all day for your post mustang!! What a wonderful report... it is so much appreciated! Interesting what tiffany had to say... Can't wait to hear the rest