03-12-2011, 04:46 PM
Report on couple's deaths disputed
Sheriff's sergeant's remarks in Springfield Twp. criticized
James Verbosky, a spokesman for the family of homicide victim Lisa Straub, 20, opposes a report to Springfield Township trustees. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT
Two weeks after a Lucas County sheriff's sergeant told Springfield Township trustees the Jan. 31 slayings of a young couple were a professional hit and not a random robbery, a family member of one of the victims is presenting the family's side of the story.
James Verbosky, spokesman for the family of homicide victim Lisa Straub, said Sgt. James Schiavone made a number of comments at the trustees' Feb. 21 meeting that were speculative or inaccurate. Among them, Sergeant Schiavone said the deaths of Miss Straub, 20, and her boyfriend, Johnny S. Clarke, 21, were "professional" hits, that both victims had "serious drug problems, gang connections, and everything else," and that he would be surprised if those responsible for the slayings were ever arrested.
"It's just irresponsible," Mr. Verbosky said. "His comments were so misleading. For somebody with 30 years of service, he should know he shouldn't be up there speculating. Everybody's speculating right now."
The young couple were found in the Longacre Lane home of Miss Straub's parents with plastic bags over their heads and their hands bound with duct tape.
Parts of the house had been ransacked, causing investigators to suspect the killers were looking for something.
Monday, the Lucas County Sheriff's Office said in a news release the homicide investigation was continuing although no arrests have been made. "As of this date, the investigation leads officers to believe this was not a random act of violence," the release stated. "We believe that these individuals were targeted.
"The motive for this crime is unknown at this time. We also do not believe that this was a 'professional hit.' "
The latter statement appears to refer to the comment Sergeant Schiavone made to township trustees, although investigators with the sheriff's office did not return phone calls seeking comment Monday.
Mr. Verbosky addressed Springfield Township trustees at their regular meeting Monday night, asking them to strike from the public record the comments Sergeant Schiavone's made at their Feb. 21 meeting.
Mr. Verbosky said the trustees agreed to attach his rebuttal to the record of last month's meeting so his concerns would be part of the document should a public-records request be made.
"We felt it was necessary to correct the record," he said afterward.
Township Administrator Leslie Kohli said the township could not legally delete the comments from a recording of the meeting, although the statements made by Sergeant Schiavone that offended the Straub family would not be included in the written minutes of the meeting.
"I don't think Sergeant Schiavone meant to be derogatory toward the kids. I just think he wasn't necessarily thinking about how what he said sounded," Ms. Kohli said.
She said Sergeant Schiavone, who recently retired, was assigned to Springfield Township by the sheriff's office and typically gave the trustees monthly reports about area crime and enforcement activity.
Mr. Verbosky said Ms. Straub's parents, Jeff and MaryBeth Straub, were upset by the comments, which were reported in the Holland-Springfield Journal. The sergeant told trustees that Ms. Straub had been arrested five times, including four times for "drug-related charges" -- a statement Mr. Verbosky said isn't true. "She had a DUI when she was 18, and she had a criminal mischief when she was under 18," Mr. Verbosky, her uncle, said.
He said her family had no reason to believe Ms. Straub had "gang connections." Her parents, who were on a Caribbean cruise when their daughter was killed, would never have left if they felt her life was in danger, Mr. Verbosky said.
He said a reward fund started by the Straub family at Fifth Third Bank branches has grown to $17,000. He said they plan to "cap" it at $20,000, adding that he thinks it can help solve the case.
"It's pretty much what Crime Stoppers is all about. Money talks, and times are tough right now," he said. "If somebody knows something we certainly would like for them to speak up."
Recently, electronic billboards seeking assistance in finding the killers have been placed throughout the area by the FBI and Lamar Advertising. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the sheriff's office at 419-213-4917 or the Crime Stopper hot line, 419-555-1212.
http://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2...puted.html
Sheriff's sergeant's remarks in Springfield Twp. criticized
James Verbosky, a spokesman for the family of homicide victim Lisa Straub, 20, opposes a report to Springfield Township trustees. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT
Two weeks after a Lucas County sheriff's sergeant told Springfield Township trustees the Jan. 31 slayings of a young couple were a professional hit and not a random robbery, a family member of one of the victims is presenting the family's side of the story.
James Verbosky, spokesman for the family of homicide victim Lisa Straub, said Sgt. James Schiavone made a number of comments at the trustees' Feb. 21 meeting that were speculative or inaccurate. Among them, Sergeant Schiavone said the deaths of Miss Straub, 20, and her boyfriend, Johnny S. Clarke, 21, were "professional" hits, that both victims had "serious drug problems, gang connections, and everything else," and that he would be surprised if those responsible for the slayings were ever arrested.
"It's just irresponsible," Mr. Verbosky said. "His comments were so misleading. For somebody with 30 years of service, he should know he shouldn't be up there speculating. Everybody's speculating right now."
The young couple were found in the Longacre Lane home of Miss Straub's parents with plastic bags over their heads and their hands bound with duct tape.
Parts of the house had been ransacked, causing investigators to suspect the killers were looking for something.
Monday, the Lucas County Sheriff's Office said in a news release the homicide investigation was continuing although no arrests have been made. "As of this date, the investigation leads officers to believe this was not a random act of violence," the release stated. "We believe that these individuals were targeted.
"The motive for this crime is unknown at this time. We also do not believe that this was a 'professional hit.' "
The latter statement appears to refer to the comment Sergeant Schiavone made to township trustees, although investigators with the sheriff's office did not return phone calls seeking comment Monday.
Mr. Verbosky addressed Springfield Township trustees at their regular meeting Monday night, asking them to strike from the public record the comments Sergeant Schiavone's made at their Feb. 21 meeting.
Mr. Verbosky said the trustees agreed to attach his rebuttal to the record of last month's meeting so his concerns would be part of the document should a public-records request be made.
"We felt it was necessary to correct the record," he said afterward.
Township Administrator Leslie Kohli said the township could not legally delete the comments from a recording of the meeting, although the statements made by Sergeant Schiavone that offended the Straub family would not be included in the written minutes of the meeting.
"I don't think Sergeant Schiavone meant to be derogatory toward the kids. I just think he wasn't necessarily thinking about how what he said sounded," Ms. Kohli said.
She said Sergeant Schiavone, who recently retired, was assigned to Springfield Township by the sheriff's office and typically gave the trustees monthly reports about area crime and enforcement activity.
Mr. Verbosky said Ms. Straub's parents, Jeff and MaryBeth Straub, were upset by the comments, which were reported in the Holland-Springfield Journal. The sergeant told trustees that Ms. Straub had been arrested five times, including four times for "drug-related charges" -- a statement Mr. Verbosky said isn't true. "She had a DUI when she was 18, and she had a criminal mischief when she was under 18," Mr. Verbosky, her uncle, said.
He said her family had no reason to believe Ms. Straub had "gang connections." Her parents, who were on a Caribbean cruise when their daughter was killed, would never have left if they felt her life was in danger, Mr. Verbosky said.
He said a reward fund started by the Straub family at Fifth Third Bank branches has grown to $17,000. He said they plan to "cap" it at $20,000, adding that he thinks it can help solve the case.
"It's pretty much what Crime Stoppers is all about. Money talks, and times are tough right now," he said. "If somebody knows something we certainly would like for them to speak up."
Recently, electronic billboards seeking assistance in finding the killers have been placed throughout the area by the FBI and Lamar Advertising. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the sheriff's office at 419-213-4917 or the Crime Stopper hot line, 419-555-1212.
http://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2...puted.html
"Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear and greed."
- Albert Einstein