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

[Aberlin]

What the fuck???!!!

This fucker will be up for parole in 20yrs. I hope this little fucktard gets the shit raped out of him in prison to the point to where he'll wish he was on death row!

Obviously I'm not going to be protected by the court system from people like this, so I'll be utilizing my carry permit everywhere I go. I refuse to sit back and let some shit like this happen to me.

Be warned, if any of you fucktards out there come into my home threatening the lives of me or mine...well let me simplify this for you; "Look here, smile, wait for the flash..."

https://mylifeexquisite.files.wordpress....00x299.jpg

[pplrcrazy]

I haven't been on in a while but I have still been following this case, I've just been really busy... I have been waiting for this part to begin and I'm glad its finally here and that fuck face is not retarded, what a crock of shit....

[Lady Cop]

toledo blade

Johnny Clarke and Lisa Straub were planning to have friends over to her parents’ Springfield Township home and try to buy illegal drugs the night they were brutally murdered, a prosecutor said Wednesday morning.

During opening statements in Lucas County Common Pleas Court in the trial of Cameo Pettaway, Tim Braun, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, told jurors that both Clarke, 21, and Ms. Straub, 20, had gotten into the habit of abusing the prescription painkiller, Percocet.

Clarke had called friends looking for Percocet the night of Jan. 31, 2011, when his final phone call was interrupted when he “verbally confronted” someone inside the Straub home, Mr. Braun said. He promised to call his friend back but never did.

Hours later, Clarke’s father kicked in the front door of the Straubs’ home and found his son and Ms. Straub lying on the floor with plastic bags bound tightly around their necks with black duct tape, Mr. Braun said. Both were dead.

It was a Newport cigarette found near the door leading from the Straubs’ home to the garage that first connected Mr. Pettaway to the crime, Mr. Braun said. His DNA and that of co-defendant, Samuel Williams, was found on the cigarette butt, Mr. Braun said.

Other DNA was found in the house as well, including DNA on the duct tape that belongs to a woman who was never identified.

“A lot of this case is dependent on the circumstantial evidence because the circumstantial evidence demonstrates exactly what was done in that house to Lisa Straub and Johnny Clarke,” Mr. Braun said. “.. The other issue becomes who was involved, and that’s a little harder. And I can tell you right now it’s the belief of the state of Ohio there were other people [who] were involved – not just Cameo Pettaway, not just Samuel Williams.”

Indeed, defense attorney Mark Geudtner countered that the cigarette butt is the only evidence linking Mr. Pettaway, 23, of 133 Essex St., to the crime scene. Mr. Geudtner told the jury that Mr. Pettaway and Mr. Williams are friends who both smoke Newports. “The evidence will show that there are a number of other suspects other than Cameo Pettaway who had motives that are actually more likely than Cameo to have been involved in these homicides,” Mr. Geudtner said.

He suggested sheriff’s investigators failed to follow up leads on those suspects after Mr. Pettaway and Mr. Williams were arrested and that they “manipulated and corrupted” the crime scene in the first place.

“You may be disappointed to learn that at this point actually nobody knows for sure who killed Johnny and Lisa,” he told the jury.

Judge James Bates sent the jury home after opening statements and advised them to return to court at 9 a.m. Monday for the first witnesses. Those witnesses will be called to testify in both Mr. Pettaway’s trial and Mr. Williams’s trial, which will be happening simultaneously in the courtroom of Judge Dean Mandros.



i'd like to know what family members were present.
and as for the female whose DNA was on duct tape...very interesting since there are no named females. the named females would have given a DNA sample.

[Older Than Dirt]

Very interesting! LC, you're really on top of it!!!!

[Lady Cop]

Very interesting! LC, you're really on top of it!!!!

not me...i'm shocked the blade scooped the other locals!

[Older Than Dirt]

Say what you want about the Blade (and I do) but they constantly update! Noon new on now,Later!

[Pico45]

I read LC's post about Maytee being barred. I heard she had thrown a fit recently and that is why they banned her. Anyone know for sure?

She can only be around when she testifies. Good to see the judges not buying in to her crap!

As for Judge Bates ruling. This is why I left Toledo. All he is, is a career politician. Must be up for Re-election and needs to make nice with the African-American community.

[Lady Cop]

Hi Pico!

here is ruling. i do not know exactly what she did:

Toledo Blade

In an order signed April 24, Judge Bates wrote that an April 20 incident in which Ms. Clark was reported to be "vulgar and uncivilized" led to his decision to ban her from proceedings in his courtroom.

"It appears that Maytee Clark cannot conduct herself with any self control and could cause problems during the course of this trial," the judge wrote. "All family members were previously warned concerning this conduct while in the courthouse."

According to a report of the afternoon incident, Ms. Clark became confrontational with three people who were at the courthouse but not associated with the case.

She also became belligerent with the prosecutor's office's victim witness assistance staff.

[Pico45]

Thanks LC.

Wow! Got mean with the victim's witness staff. That is a big WOW!

Anyways, I read what the blade has on so far at noon. Said there was a cigarette butt found at the door landing with both defendant's DNA on it. And they a female's DNA on some duct tape I believe, but that female has not been identified. Wonder who that female was.

[Lady Cop]

it is official, maytee is barred from even entering courthouse except to testify.
---------------------------------

the full blade report is well-done, post 20703.

this is WTOL report, very poor. sophomoric.

TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - Opening statements began Wednesday in a high profile murder case.

Cameo Pettaway is accused of killing a Springfield Township couple in January 2011. On Wednesday morning, Pettaway faced a judge.

Pettaway is charged with two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of kidnapping and aggravated burglary.

Prosecutors said Pettaway went into the home where Johnny Clarke and Lisa Straub were living with at least one other man and killed the couple. They said there is DNA evidence to prove it.

The defense claimed there are still many questions surrounding the DNA and how it got there. They said it is not enough to prove Pettaway is responsible for the murders.

On Tuesday, the death penalty specification was dropped for Pettaway after Judge James Bates decided he did not meet the state's standards due to mental issues. By law, individuals who are mentally challenged cannot face the death penalty.

Pettaway still faces life in prison if convicted.

[justme]

Ok---so I was at opening statements today---sooo much to report.

Sounds like only family and Media will get get in next week when evidence begins. But I will try! They are not going to let people linger in hall outside of courtroom and there will be no over flow room.

Jury looks intelligent (IMO)--most dressed nicely--paid attention. Mostly women. I was impressed. Judge Bates will let them take notes next week.
(something he usually doesn't do)

Lisa's parents quietly sat and listened--Other members of Lisa's family were there but not allowed in courtroom until after they testify as they are witnesses.

Johnny's family--most have been banned--someone in their row cried through the whole thing (older woman--gray hair)

Pettaway's family was quiet--don't know who any of them are.

Apparently yesterday there was a verbal outburst between Clark's family and Pettaway's hence more people being banned. And apparently this a.m. there was a problem on first floor with Clark's family which I missed. Judge Bates said he will not put up with any outbursts between families(in fact those were almost the very first words out of his mouth before opening statements began)

Pettaway had on dark suit with light green shirt and a tie(same suit as yesterday) IMO he had a slight punk swagger when he left the courtroom. Sat quietly and without expression the whole time.

As for the statements:
Prosecution: Bed, Bath, Beyond bags likely came from Straub's garage. Black duct tape DID NOT come from Staub's home.
Lisa's bedroom door had been locked and was kicked open breaking the lock.
Cigarette butt found at crime scene had BOTH CP's and SW's DNA on it.
When SW arrested the FIRST person he called from jail was Pettaway!
Duct tape on Johnny's neck had unknown MALE DNA on it and duct tape on his ankles had unknown FEMALE DNA on it.

Defense: Says Johnny was on bad terms with a lot people: owing people money for drugs. Also brought up the "bad car deal" and also mentioned Lisa's ex-boyfriend's name.
Mentioned how Maytee said it was drug related and that she said Aaron Griffin(AP) and Tiffany Williams killed them.
Brought up a lot of names form the very beginning. The names went on and on.
Major faux pas: showed photo of Johnny's body with wallet laid on his stomach saying that in the drug world that meant Johnny owed money.
Said investigators (of course) "manipulated" evidence at the crime scene. (he was reprimanded by Judge Bates for showing evidence today---not allowed during opening statements)
Said Pettaway had nothing to do with this murder.

Judge Bates is hoping that all evidence is presented by the end of next week so deliberations can start by the end of the court day on Friday. He also said that the court is going to coordinate CP's and SW's trials to finish around same time.

Can't remember who said this but that Lisa was the first die and both were held down while they struggled (will be shown in autopsy photos)

Wow--sorry this so long!! I am not very good at this so I hope it makes sense. I'm sure I forgot a lot --- maybe if you fellow mockers ask questions it will jar my memory. Please forgive any spelling/punctuation errors!!

I need a drink after all of this!! Looking forward to your comments!

[Lady Cop]

very good job JustMe!! thankyou!
hell, your reporting was far better than WTOL's!

[justme]

very good job JustMe!! thankyou!
hell, your reporting was far better than WTOL's!

Thanks LC!!

[soothsayer]

Agreed. Nicely done, justme! And much appreciated.

[heartbreaker6713]

Not that i want to see the autopsy photos or anything like that but will any of the records or evidence be available for us to view as the trial goes along? Or afterwards? If it is afterwards does anyone have an idea how long it would take?

[Pico45]

Thanks soothsayer! I wanted to go to trial but can't cause of work and other things. However, I probably wouldn't get in cause of the judge's order.

I was hoping they knocked Lisa out, hence the blood they found by her mouth or in the bag.

Please keep the updates coming!

[Aberlin]

Duct tape on Johnny's neck had unknown MALE DNA on it and duct tape on his ankles had unknown FEMALE DNA on it.

Defense: Says Johnny was on bad terms with a lot people: owing people money for drugs.

And there you have it. If that's all they've got beside speculative "witness" opinions these two are going to walk.

If after all their investigation and recorded statements they still don't have a clue who's DNA is on the tape they'll never find out.

The DNA on the tape is the actual killers. All else is circumstantial evidence that can be explained away in light of the prosecutions statements that Johnny and Lisa were looking to buy drugs.

The suspects were probably just brought along as extra help.

Sounds like the plan was to tape them up, scare the shit out of them, but someone miscalculated either timing or had an emotional blow up.

All this while poor Pettaway was in the garage looking for his baseball (see also, There's Something About Mary).

I think in light of this, the speculation that Lisa was killed "accidently" (mentioned a few pages earlier) fits well with the scare tactic.

As far as them being held down while they struggled for air...not sure what exactly they have to prove it but if its just bruises, that could have been people holding them down while they were struggling not to be tapped up. Not that it matters (sadly).

I hope to God someone thought to get a sample of Maytee and John's DNA. Not saying I think they did it, just saying the over the top emotional outbursts are suspicious to me.

I don't want to hear shit about people saying "you've never lost a child" because there are many out there who have who did what they had to in order to maintain mental healthiness.

"I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it."

Therefore, no sympathy here...deal with it like everyone else does.

[Lady Cop]

just as an aside...is there anyone who remembers back at the beginning i said murder was not planned and they found the bags at the house? they did not bring the bags. they brought the tape for restraint purposes. then of course it all went bad.
and female DNA on the tape could be from whoever might have handled that roll of tape prior to murders. a little out there, but i would argue it if i were defense. god forbid.

[Aberlin]

heartbreaker -
Its rare that they release crime scene photos. I can recount only a handful of cases where such was released and for the most part, it doesn't happen till many years later. An exception, however, is the Petit family murders. Also the OJ Simpson case. These were higher profile cases though which might suggest why such evidence was made public.

I also think that because there are at least two more unknown suspects, that the evidence photos will never be released. Secondly, for some reason this case isn't getting the public attention it needs so there's no real reason for them to release photos in light of this. I could be proven wrong though.

Personally I would like to see all of the photos as well not because I have some craving to see violence, but rather I want to understand what happened for myself.

Pico -
I do as well but it seems that this isn't the case based "wounds" on the bodies suggesting an extensive struggle. I always personally believed that when they put the bag over her head she was whipping her head around to try to shake the bag off (I mean what else can you do at that point?) and she hit her head on the floor, etc. When they kicked in her door there could have been a fight and she got punched or slapped but I don't personally believe knocked unconscious.

If she was killed first I strongly believe it was done in front of Johnny and to get the full effect, they wanted him to see/hear her struggle suggesting they would have wanted her conscious. I personally don't believe murder was the original intent (they brought tape, but not even so much as the plastic bags).

Like I mentioned earlier, there is speculation that Lisa was killed accidently and so they realized they had to kill Johnny.

Having said that, it can take up to 5 minutes for someone to die the way they did. Consciousness is usually lost between a minute to a minute and a half. This is contingent on lung capacity, depth of last breath taken, and overall health of the person. That's a long time to accidentally kill someone.

Sam & Cameo could also have been the drug dealers who sold in bulk to Johnny's friend(s). Once Sam & Cameo find out the reason the friend(s) can't pay them back is because of Johnny's refusal to pay, they all go together and force Johnny's friend(s) to do the work (guy and a girl...sounds like a couple). Again, just speculation.

[Older Than Dirt]

I just had it explained to me, a short time ago, that if someone asked to borrow my tape my prints would be on it. Or even a store clerk. Also LC , what are your thoughts on the three hours it took to get Pettaway's jury! Would that indicate a confident defense??? Can you tell that I'm being coached???? HAHA The tape thing is common sense, but it honestly didn't occur to me .DUH