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

[Mustang]

with the straub family and friends now. away from the courtroom waiting notification on either a verdict or sesquestration. about 15 of us here. everyone upset but the initial shock has worn off a bit. still very hopeful in the williams trial. straubs were at williams hearing last few minutes of closing when pettaway decision happened. didnt find out until after. they're heartbroken but optimistic. concerned that williams jurors may become aware before sesquestration. ill post as soon as i kno something but be aware the williams case is much stronger. not a slam dunk but much stronger. worried personally that if the jury hears about pettaway they will assume the cases are identical and ignore the evidence.

[Lady Cop]

Didn't ANY of you see this coming?

some of us have been very worried about a lack of direct evidence. i'm not happy, but not shocked. casey anthony, THAT shocked me.

[YourOtherLeft]

Here's what took place after lunch break:
The judge asked for transcripts back from phone calls from Sam which were played in the morning, since the transcripts were not evidence.
Prosecution entered evidence #51-59 (phone records), #60, 61 a,b,c,d, 62 abc (footprint reports) into evidence -- judge asked defense if they were admitted without objection --- they were.
Prosecution asked to approach the bench. All attorneys went to the bench for hushed conversation with judge.
On the way back to seats, Braun (on prosectution side) tripped over cords for TV used to play Pettaway's interview video earlier, & everyone gasped.
When the attorneys returned to their seats, the prosecution announced they rested their case.
The judge then asked the jury be taken across the hall to another empty courtroom - not the adjoining jury room, because of motions that were going to be heard at this point.
The jury filed out. And about 10 more sheriffs came in. A couple went directly behind John Sr's seat. Other's stood blocking Pettaway.
Once the jury was gone, the defense stood (Geudtner) and made a Motion for Acquittal on grounds of insufficient evidence to sustain a conviction. Only evidence the prosecution produced was a cigarette butt...can't determine when, how, where it was left in conjunction with the homicide. Said has also been shown the JC was a marijuana trafficker -- with a retail operation at the Straub's while they were gone. No reason to believe it was left during the homicides. Know there was a lot of traffic in/out of house during the weekend.
The judge asked if the evidence just entered by the prosecution before resting did anything to implicate Cameo.
The defense responded that it was exculpatory, that Pettaway was not that far west in Toledo and no footprint evidence implicated Pettaway or Wiliams.
Then the State's response was that they established that the cigarette butt linked to Cameo Pettaway was at the home of a murder scene. That they presented habits of cig usage in house, no smoking in house. Yet there was this cigarette left in a clean house.
Said there were multiple people who killed/kidnapped and gained entry to the home to do these activities. Said there's not evidence he was selling marijuana- only 1 call on ¹⁄₂₉ to Johnny's phone asking about marijuana. And that nobody's explained how else client was in the house. Then asked them to deny the motion.
Judge said he would take it under advisement and said there would be 10 minute recess....

[NightOwl]

misshmarie23, Can you let us know if Tiffany says anything on her FB Wall
about Cam and the news to-day? Did Tiffany say if Aaron testified?

[shitstorm]

Welcome to Lucas County people! the most corrupt and incompetent Prosecutor's office in the state. Normally they give everyone an Alford plea. Still surprised they did not do that here!

The judge granted motion for acquittal.

....don't think they should have brought this to trial -- cameo's cell phone records/tower information was exculpatory -- shows he wasn't in that area during the time of the murders.

Whoa, I hadn't heard that.

Now, that I've overcome my initial surprise, I agree with LC that the judge did the right thing. Nobody should be brought to trial with such a flimsy (and amateur) presentation as this. If the phone record thing is correct, it makes it all the worse. That said, not counting these phone records, I believed he was there. What Mustang proposed about about Cousino being diabolical enough to plant the butt is very plausible, to me. It was a lame case, due to lousy prosecutors, and if the judge hadn't granted the motion, reasonable doubt should have ruled the day (but you never know with a jury).

This is MESSED UP. Whatever happens with Williams, Lisa's and Johnny's killers are still out there.

(edit) Pico, I forgot to ask what an Alford plea is.

[NightOwl]

Didn't ANY of you see this coming?

The cigarette wasn't enough to convict, I still think he was there and part of it and was hoping extra evidence would come out at trial, if I was on the Jury I could not have found him guilty.

[DickTracy]

Didn't ANY of you see this coming?

Yeah, I saw this coming. There was no strong motive and evidence was lacking big time.Toledo is a huge drug & prostitution hub. It's one big fuckin circus. The only link was a cigg... all other DNA has not been connected to anyone.

[shitstorm]

The judge granted motion for acquittal.

....don't think they should have brought this to trial -- cameo's cell phone records/tower information was exculpatory -- shows he wasn't in that area during the time of the murders.

I wouldn't take my phone if I was going to kill someone.

Mustang posted about the lack of contact between W's and P's phones between the hours the murders occurred. Not enough to convict someone but curious.

[Duchess]

Tell me they didn't use his cell phone records to PROVE he wasn't in the area. Did I read that right?

[shitstorm]

probably a weapon or drug shit Owl.

Which begs the question: If they could get a warrant for his arrest for murder, why didn't they have a search warrant for his house at the same time?

They searched Starla's house. Found nothing.

Thanks, Adub. Probably what LC, said, then - weapons or drugs.

[Lady Cop]

Pico, I forgot to ask what an Alford plea is.

BTK killer took one. you are not pleading innocent or guilty. but you make a deal and have to allocute in open court...tell all details of crime.
In an Alford Plea, the criminal defendant does not admit the act, but admits that the prosecution could likely prove the charge. The court will pronounce the defendant guilty.
similar to nolo contendere

[Lady Cop]

pettaway hugs one of his lawyers



blade

[NightOwl]

Tell me they didn't use his cell phone records to PROVE he wasn't in the area. Did I read that right?

Now that would be retarded.

[lucimhome]

O
M
G
!
I don't want to believe it. I hope Lisa gets justice.

[Duchess]

pettaway hugs one of his lawyers

That tard will feel invincible now.

[imsuchawildflower]

13 abc and wtol i know you read here. your inaccurate reporting is shameful and unprofessional. you were in such a hurry you don't check FACTS as reporters should do! FOR SHAME! just print anything that pops into your sophomoric junior-reporter alleged brains.

the toledo blade did a professional accurate job.

I MAILED THIS POST TO ALL 3 NEWS DIRECTORS.

Good!

[Adub]

So who thinks the State will appeal?

[YourOtherLeft]

During the recess the defense went to Pettaway's family and told them that no matter what happens, no outbursts or they will be arrested.
The judge returned and said he's presided over hundreds of homicide cases, including 40 or so death penalty cases...he's familiar with serious crimes. At this point the only evidence is a cigarette butt & noted the mobility of it was a problem.
He said he's read this particular jury instruction many times in his career, but particular interest in this case -- that of inference.
He said the 1^st inference that has to be made is that CP left the cig butt at the scene, which may be reasonable
2^nd inference that needs made is that CP left the cig butt at the scene at the crucial time period & with the # people in/out of residence , it could have been dropped any time after the Straub's left for their vacation.
3^rd inference, a crucial one, that must be made is that CP himself dropped the cig butt at the scene during the time of the crime AND participated in the crime.
He read the definition of an inference & referred to a few Ohio decisions regarding inferences & said that legally there's a problem with inferences. If unsupported by other facts, jury may not indulge an inference on an inference.
Said state was meticulous in its case and sheriff's office was thorough in it's investigation and evidence, yet the only evidence is the cig butt. Not 1 iota of evidence showing the crime has anything to do with CP, all of the objects sent to BCI, house was trashed, yet nothing points to CP. Wasn't clear on why prosecutor entered those phone records into evidence when they showed CP may not have been in the area. Nothing implicated CP.
Then said he had to make 2 tough decisions in this case he hasn't had to make before. And said 2 young lives were taken for no reason, and unfortunately the question still remains, "Who did this?". Said SW's trial has different evidence being presented. But as required by rule 29 he is granting the acquittal.
At that point Pettway's family - all holding hands were crying quietly.
The Straub family were crying some sobbing out loud. Johnny's dad sat low in his seat....he was with the coach and a girl - the girl was crying. They got Pettaway out of there fast. The deputies were whispering about John Sr's actions, he was escorted out. It was really tense for a while -- trying to keep everyone away from each other. It was really sad, I couldn't help but feel for the families that they may still not know who did this to Johnny and Lisa.

[Lady Cop]

pettaway hugs one of his lawyers

That tard will feel invincible now.

he'll die in the street like so many other thugs.

[DickTracy]

13abc
http://www.13abc.com/story/19122951/came...-dismissed

According to Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn, Cameo Pettaway was transported to the Wood County Jail. He was wanted on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear.

Pettaway posted bond.