There must not be too many people from NE Ohio on here, as I searched the forum expecting to already find a thread started.

I won't bullshit with ya any longer tho, here are two articles (the heading of each links to the source)


Three men arraigned on charges relating to death of Willowick man (with videos)

Three men were arraigned by video Wednesday morning in Willoughby Municipal Court on charges relating to the death of Willowick resident William Andrew Fayne Putzbach.

Acting Judge Harry Field set bond at $1 million for Kyle Basinger, 21, of Euclid, who was charged with aggravated murder.

Bond was set at $500,000 each for Ronald Shirer and Nathaniel Brown, both 22, who were each charged with murder.

Police said Shirer and Brown were roommates at the Willoughby Hills Towers apartment complex, where Putzbach’s body was found Sunday in the trunk of his green 1995 Pontiac Bonneville.

No pleas were entered in court and preliminary hearings were scheduled April 27 at 1 p.m. for each man. Attorneys were appointed by the court for each defendant.

The complaints against each man, which Field read in court, allege the death of Putzbach occurred on or around April 10.

According to Willoughby Hills police, the coroner’s offices in Cuyahoga and Lake counties ruled Putzbach’s cause of death was homicide by blunt impacts to the head and neck.

Putzbach’s father Frederick Putzbach, his stepmother Kimberly Putzbach, and his mother Cathy Fayne addressed the media after the arraignment.

“We’d like to thank the Willowick, Willoughby Hills and Euclid police departments for their collaborative efforts in the apprehension of these defendants,” said Frederick Putzbach. “Even though there is still a long way to go to see justice is served, I am confident that day will come.”

Frederick Putzbach said he was pleased the bonds were set at high dollar amounts for the defendants.

“I hope they can’t get out and have a long time to think about what has happened,” he said.

The family said they are experiencing anger and hurt.

“There are times of hows and whys and the mistakes that were made were serious mistakes, if that’s what you want to call it,” Frederick Putzbach said.

Fayne said her son had made a few mistakes in his life, but was trying to move forward.

“He had a good job and, as far as I know, he was straightening his life out,” she said.



Basinger, center

Detective: Suspect in Putzbach's death claimed he was hired by Russian Mob (with video)


Kyle Basinger claimed the Russian Mob hired him to kill a Willowick man, a detective testified Wednesday in Willoughby Municipal Court.

Basinger, 21, of Euclid, and two other men are accused of murdering William Andrew Fayne Putzbach, whose body was found April 17 in the trunk of his Pontiac Grand Am at the Willoughby Hills Towers apartment complex.

During Basinger’s preliminary hearing, Willoughby Hills Detective Ronald Parmertor testified that a missing person investigation led police to the complex and to Basinger.



“By his own admission, he said there was a Russian Mob hit, that he was hired as a hit man,” Parmertor said. “He was going to rob Mr. Putzbach of his marijuana. He took his vehicle, credit cards and cash that was on him.”

The 21-year-old victim died from a compressed neck and blunt trauma to the head, the detective said.

The detective was the sole witness called to the stand.

The defense rested without presenting any evidence.

“We feel the city of Willoughby Hills has not met its burden and the case should be dismissed,” said Walter Camino, Basinger’s attorney.

However, Acting Judge Harry Field said City Prosecutor Michael Germano proved there was probable cause to bind the case over to a Lake County grand jury.

After the hearing ended, a man in the packed courtroom, shouted, “Hey, Kyle! You’re done, bro. One way or another, you’re going out.”

Basinger, who is charged with aggravated murder, remains in jail on $1 million bond.

His co-defendants, Ronald Shirer and Nathaniel Brown, both 22, are each charged with murder. They are in jail unable to post $500,000 bonds.

Shirer and Brown were roommates at the Willoughby Hills Towers.

They each waived their preliminary hearings Wednesday. Their cases will now be heard in Lake County Common Pleas Court.

Police said Putzbach likely was killed on or about April 10.

not much in the news on this case since june. but here's a quick update

Prosecutors seeking death penalty for Basinger in Putzbach murder

Published: Wednesday, June 15, 2011
By Tracey Read, The News-Herald

A Euclid man, who police say claimed the Russian Mob hired him to kill a Willowick resident, has been indicted on 16 counts.

In addition, prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Kyle Basinger, a 21-year-old suspect in the death of William Andrew Fayne Putzbach, also 21.

“This was certainly a proper case where the death penalty should have been brought to the grand jury,” Lake County Prosecutor Charles Coulson said.

Basinger — who remains in jail on $1 million bond — was indicted on three counts of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications.

He is also charged with four counts of murder, three counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of kidnapping, felonious assault, theft, grand theft of a motor vehicle and gross abuse of a corpse.

The victim’s body was found April 17 in the trunk of his Pontiac Grand Am at the Willoughby Hills Towers apartment complex. Police said he was likely killed on or about April 10.

Putzbach died from a compressed neck and blunt trauma to the head, officials said.

Basinger’s two co-defendants have also been indicted but will not face the death penalty.

Ronald Shirer, and Nathaniel Brown, both 22, were each charged with 14 counts.

Shirer and Brown were indicted on two counts of aggravated murder, six counts of murder, aggravated robbery, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of felonious assault and gross abuse of a corpse.

Shirer and Brown were roommates at the Willoughby Hills Towers.

They are in jail on $500,000 bonds.

full article

Case info from Lake County Clerk of Courts Record Search:

CRIMINAL - Summary
11CR000243 BASINGER, KYLE A JG

Prelim Case Nbr WLBY 11CRA01030-A
Jurisdiction COMMON PLEAS

Defendant
Full Name BASINGER, KYLE A
D.O.B. 09/27/1989

Case Information
Degree of Off. UNCLASSIFIED FELONY

Prosecutor KOWALL, ESQ, KAREN L.
Judge GIBSON, JOSEPH

Charge(s): Counts
AGGRAVATED MURDER 3
MURDER 4
AGGRAVATED ROBBERY 2
KIDNAPPING 2
FELONIOUS ASSAULT 2
ABUSE OF CORPSE 1
THEFT 1
THEFT AND/OR GRAND THEFT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE 1

Case Attributes
Number 11CR000243
Filed 05/05/2011
Status Open


Events

• CONFERENCE WITH ATTORNEYS AND JUDGE 07/01/2011
  
• CONFERENCE WITH ATTORNEYS AND JUDGE 07/14/2011
  
• PRE-TRIAL 08/12/2011
  
• PRE-TRIAL 09/09/2011
  
• PRE-TRIAL 10/14/2011
  
• PRE-TRIAL 10/28/2011
  
• PRE-TRIAL 11/18/2011
  
• JURY TRIAL- CRIMINAL 11/28/2011
  
• SENTENCING HEARING 12/12/2011
  

Judge: Basinger trial to cost public $100,000
By Tracey Read, News-Herald

It will cost taxpayers about $100,000 to try the case of a Euclid man who told police the Russian mob hired him to kill a Willowick resident.

Kyle Basinger, 21, is one of three suspects in the death of William Andrew Fayne Putzbach, whose body was found April 17 in the trunk of his car at the Willoughby Hills Towers apartment complex.

Because prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Basinger, the Ohio Supreme Court requires additional, more costly legal protections.

Lake County Common Pleas Judge Joe Gibson recently wrote a letter to commissioners informing them of the additional expenses.

Commissioner Raymond E. Sines said the county is already dealing with declining revenues and the case will likely further strain the budget.

“All of a sudden, here is $100,000 that we will have to pay for,” Sines said. “$100,000 in anticipated costs — it’s just ridiculous.”

Chief Lake County Public Defender Charles R. Grieshammer — whose office is representing Basinger’s two co-defendants — said the judge and defense attorneys have no choice than to spend the extra money.

“If there’s a capital case, I have to do these things to do my job. The only person who has a choice is the prosecutor,” Grieshammer said.

.....continued


basinger

sadly, i've had some hard time finding pictures of the victim, William Andrew Fayne Putzbach, pretty sure he went by the name andy. otherwise i'd post those

this is a little late, as the first of three defendants' trial ended last week, so bare with me, but there are still 2 defendants to be tried.

a thread with some earlier coverage on this case: Assholes in the News/Kyle Basinger-- "hired by russian mob"
For reference:

VICTIM: William Andrew Fayne Putzbach, Sept. 26, 1989-Apr. 11, 2011 (age 21) Obituary/Guestbook



DEFENDANTS (L-R): Kyle Basinger (21), Nathaniel Brown (22), Ronald Shirer (22)
Brown & Shirer were roommates at the Willoughby Hills Towers apartments where the murder took place and where the police subsequently found the victim's body.


After being ruled competent to stand trial (in sept.) Nathaniel Brown stood trial beginning November 15.
The News-Herald (a northeast ohio newspaper) has had the most coverage of this case since it broke, and is the source for all articles that i've included unless otherwise specified.


Trial begins for man accused of helping kill William Andrew Fayne Putzbach
By: Tracey Read Published: Wednesday, November 16, 2011

A Willoughby Hills man on trial in the murder of William Andrew Fayne Putzbach is arguing his two co-defendants are the sole people responsible for the 21-year-old Willowick man’s death.

Nathaniel Brown, 22, is the first of three men to be tried for Putzbach’s killing.

The victim’s body was discovered stuffed in the trunk of his car April 17 at the Willoughby Hills Towers apartment complex.


The victim met Basinger, Brown and Shirer at the apartment on April 10 to buy marijuana. The trio brought duct tape, a four-foot chain and a hammer belonging to Brown to Putzbach’s car, Kowall said.

“A $20 quick marijuana deal doesn’t go down like that,” the prosecutor said.

Instead, Basinger got in the seat behind the victim. Shirer sat in the front passenger side and Brown got in the rear seat behind Shirer, Kowall said.

“Kyle Basinger produces this chain,” said the prosecutor. “He tightens it around Will Putzbach. Will’s not going very easy. There’s a struggle. He’s kicking and he’s flailing around. He kicks the windshield lever, he kicks the dome light, and he kicks Ronald Shirer’s glasses off. He’s fighting for his life.”

Kowall said Basinger then repeatedly asked Putzbach for the PIN to his ATM card. After the victim complied, the chain was loosened up, the prosecutor said.

However, at some point in the struggle, Brown struck Putzbach with a hammer on the side of the head six or seven times, Kowall said.

“What kills Will Putzbach is the lack of blood to his brain,” the prosecutor said.

After the victim died, Kowall said Basinger duct taped his wrists behind his back.

Basinger then got gas with Putzbach’s money, emptied the victim’s personal items at a Willoughby Hills park, stuffed his body in the trunk and went back to the apartment, Kowall said.

“Over the next few days, believe it or not, Kyle drives that car around,” the prosecutor said.

He also bought items — including an iPod — with the victim’s money, police said.
*FULL ARTICLE

Jury sent home early for the day in Nathaniel Brown trial
By: Tracey Read Published: Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Jury sees Nathaniel Brown's police interview in murder trial
By: Tracey Read Published: Friday, November 18, 2011
Nathaniel Brown claimed he had no idea his co-defendant was planning on robbing and killing William Andrew Fayne Putzbach.

That's according to a taped interview played for the jury Thursday on the third day of Brown's murder trial.

Putzbach's body was found stuffed in the trunk of his Pontiac Grand Am April 17 at the Willoughby Hills Towers apartment complex.

Brown — who was employed at a Mentor factory and was supposed to start service for the Army in August — is the first of three men to be tried for the homicide.

Brown is heard on the tape telling several different versions of what happened the night of April 10.

However, he never claimed direct responsibility.

At first, he told Willoughy Hills Detective Dave Broadwater he and Ronald Shirer, his temporary roommate at the Willoughby Hills Towers, weren't even in the victim's Pontiac when he was killed.

He later admitted all three were inside the car, but insisted that Kyle Basinger, a 21-year-old Euclid man Brown had met six months before, was solely to blame.

Brown told the detective that Basinger asked him and Shirer to come with him while he bought about $110 worth of marijuana from Putzbach.

Broadwater asked what happened when Brown got in the car with the three other men.

"He starts talking to the dude for a couple minutes," Brown said. "He pulls out this chain and starts strangling him. It was kind of like, shock. You're not really believing what you're seeing. You can't move.

"He was talking about the Russian mob or whatever. He took the dude's wallet."

Broadwater then asks, "Any other instrument used to kill him?"

Brown paused before saying, "Yeah. A hammer. He choked the dude. He picks up the hammer. Hits him in the head. Shirer was kinda the way I was — in a state of shock."

Brown said Basinger then went to get gas with the victim's money and went to Squire's Castle in Willoughby Hills to throw out personal items of Putzbach's that had been in the trunk.

*FULL ARTICLE

Nathaniel Brown guilty on all counts
By: Tracey Read Published: Monday, November 21, 2011


Nathaniel Brown slumped his body over and hung his head after a jury convicted him Monday of murdering William Andrew Fayne Putzbach.

After learning Brown was guilty on all counts, the victim’s mother, Cathy Fayne of Cleveland, shouted out, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”

Brown, 22, of Willoughby Hills, was the first of three men to be tried for the murder.

The body of the 21-year-old Willowick man was discovered stuffed in the trunk of his car April 17 at the Willoughby Hills Towers apartment complex.

“I’m just ecstatic that justice has been served,” Fayne said. “The evidence was overwhelming, but you never know.”

Throughout the trial, Putzbach’s family members packed the audience.

“It was just a very tragic incident to all the parties involved,” Chief Assistant Lake County Prosecutor Karen Kowall said. “It’s a crime that shocks the sensibilities. It’s frightening. The biggest question in this case was, why?”

Defense attorney John Luskin said he respects the jury’s verdict.

“They deliberated a good eight hours,” he said.

Brown was charged with two counts of aggravated murder, six counts of murder, aggravated robbery, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of felonious assault and gross abuse of a corpse.

Co-defendant Ron Shirer, 22, of Willoughby Hills, is scheduled to be tried Jan. 24 on the same charges.

The alleged ringleader, 21-year-old Euclid resident Kyle Basinger, is set for trial Feb. 6.

Basinger is accused of strangling Putzbach with a chain around his neck to get him to reveal his debit card PIN on April 10.

Brown told police Basinger also repeatedly hit the victim in the head with a hammer, but prosecutors said Brown himself used the hammer.

Brown — whose bond has been revoked — could be sentenced to life in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 19 by Judge Richard L. Collins Jr.

*FULL ARTICLE

thanks for update Koko.

Why are everybody's eyes too close together in Ohio?

MikeyA is the hottest thing to come out of that state.

(08-15-2011, 04:52 PM)koko Wrote: Charge(s): Counts
AGGRAVATED MURDER 3
MURDER 4
AGGRAVATED ROBBERY 2
KIDNAPPING 2
FELONIOUS ASSAULT 2
ABUSE OF CORPSE 1
THEFT 1
THEFT AND/OR GRAND THEFT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE 1

Well hes been busy boy hasnt he.

(11-28-2011, 12:07 AM)Cracker Wrote: Why are everybody's eyes too close together in Ohio?

MikeyA is the hottest thing to come out of that state.

maybe it's cuz im from ohio too but i think they have ample space between the eyes lol brown, maybe...he does have that rodent look.

(11-28-2011, 12:21 AM)koko Wrote: maybe it's cuz im from ohio too but i think they have ample space between the eyes lol brown, maybe...he does have that rodent look.

Have you seen MikeyA's pics? Hotness.

I can see up their noses. That is wrong.

The boy they murdered was a cutie pie. Kids are so fucked up nowadays. We didn't murder people over weed. We shared what we had and had a good ol' time. Something is wrong with this generation. They are missing a large part of their souls.

(11-28-2011, 12:28 AM)Cracker Wrote:

(11-28-2011, 12:21 AM)koko Wrote: maybe it's cuz im from ohio too but i think they have ample space between the eyes lol brown, maybe...he does have that rodent look.

Have you seen MikeyA's pics? Hotness.

I can see up their noses. That is wrong.

The boy they murdered was a cutie pie. Kids are so fucked up nowadays. We didn't murder people over weed. We shared what we had and had a good ol' time. Something is wrong with this generation. They are missing a large part of their souls.

I hadn't seen any of his pics, until i just browsed the member photos thread, you don't lie.

And yes, he was awfully cute. I hadn't been able to find a photo of Putzbach until I saw that one, and ohhh my god that smile made my heart hurt even more.

Don't take this as me making excuses for any of them, but from what i understand it wasn't just about the weed. At least according to the article about the jury seeing Brown's interview tape:

Broadwater repeatedly asked Brown what the "real plan" was.

Brown said Basinger did tell him he planned to kill Putzbach for a few thousand dollars that was in his bank account, but that he didn't know until after the victim was dead.

I can't argue with you on the fact that a good portion of people my age ARE inconsiderate bastards. But some of us do have a whole soul, I promise.

sooo i couldn't sleep, ended up doing random shit all night. some of that shit being a little more "research" on facebook.

Shirer -- it's private, but wth...link it anyways

Brown -- public

Basinger -- his might be private, not sure. we have mutual friends. one of them actually being my 16 y/o (female) cousin. i know she didn't actually KNOW him. she's just one of them young skank types who accepts every male friend request she gets. while I can't see much of his profile, she (or...me on her account--- shh..she doesn't know I know her pw) can see everything. his mom (i think?) has taken over his profile...giving friends his mailing address and setting up visitations.


i didn't realize until seeing this that the pic of him used in most of the older articles is his ID pic, not a mugshot. That smirk really bothered me, seeing as how (i thought) he had been arrested just prior. guess i'll need to look past that initial reaction.

my apologies if this was a useless post, but as I said I couldn't sleep...ran out of other shit that i was willing to do lol

one down two to go.

couldn't get the video to embed here but if you follow the link to the original article you'll find it no problem. (ps. the video is from inside the courtroom this morning, during the sentencing, im currently watching it for the first time, about 15 mins in and it seems to be about half way done; also i have a few words to say about it near the end of this post)

Nathaniel Brown sentenced to life in prison without parole for murder (video)
By: News-Herald staff Published: Monday, December 19, 2011

A Willoughby Hills man was sentenced today to life in prison without parole for the murder of William Andrew Fayne Putzbach.

Nathaniel Brown, 22, received the sentence in Lake County Common Pleas Court from Judge Richard L. Collins Jr.

Brown was convicted by a jury Nov. 21 on two counts of aggravated murder, six counts of murder, aggravated robbery, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of felonious assault and gross abuse of a corpse.

The body of the 21-year-old victim from Willowick was discovered stuffed in the trunk of his car April 17 at the Willoughby Hills Towers apartment complex.

His two co-defendants have not yet gone to trial.

article + video

my thoughts:
(please note: all transcribing (in italics) was done by me from listening to the video, in which of course the audio is not perfect, so it may not be 100% word-for-word but it's close)

--Making this following section small because I kind of get into an enraged rant, also I use the word "you" a lot as if im trying to talk to Nate Brown personally, that's not the case. it's just easier for me to write, and for you to read, if im not saying "Mr. Brown" every other sentence--

(that rosary aint gon help ya now boy)

Regarding Nate Brown/Defense:
I can't stand the excuse of a "broken" home while growing up contributing to someone committing some type of vicious crime. I understand you didn't know your father until you were 18, however there are PLENTY of 21 year olds: male, female, white, black or god damn purple take your pick, who STILL do not know their father, yet have not involved themselves in shit like this. TBH I don't see how such a coward could have done shit in the army. If you REALLY didn't know what was goin down, you would have fucking done something to stop it. You say you knew Basinger (alleged ringleader) for only 6 months, also you claim that just like you, Shirer was shocked when Basinger started choking the victim. Fucking bullshit dude. if that was true you and Shirer, assuming you're not total pussies, would have done something to stop it. Basinger is notably smaller than both Brown and Shirer, just judging size and body strength alone, not even considering the fact that there was a hammer and other objects readily available to grab/use inside the car, Basinger could definitely have been stopped.

• The victim's parents each read impact statements, both gave me goosebumps.
  
• The mother's statement included a message to Brown from the victim's younger brother Kristopher. I just want to give this kid the biggest hug. I've seen a couple pictures of him in court with his mother (I would guess he's maybe 13? give or take, but you can tell he's not just a lil tyke being dragged to the courthouse day after day during the trial)
  
• I wish they didn't have to go through 2 more separate trials.
  

the father, during his statement, addresses Brown's grandmother (who minutes prior addressed the court and victim's family before Brown read his statement. to the family she basically says that they (Brown's family) obviously don't understand the exact pain and feelings the Fayne/Putzbach family has dealt with and that they're in their prayers)

the victim's father, in part of his statement, turns to Brown's grandmother and family and says this:
"To the grandmother, Mr. Brown's family, I'm Sorry....I don't dislike anybody I've (we've) met. I just don't know how to fight through feeling that, these feelings, of not having my son come home anymore."

I felt I should point out: what a class act. This was a horrific murder, 3 people on 1, inside the victim's own car. Pretty much the more details you hear the more disgusting the incident becomes. Maytee should take a page from Mr. Putzbach's book (well, either parent honestly), especially when it comes to courtroom etiquette.

all in all this was so senseless. it hits EXTREMELY close to home. Prayers for the Fayne/Putzbach family and all of William Andrew Fayne Putzbach's friends and other loved ones.

so a little bit of updating to be done...

last time I posted, the trial/court schedule was:
Co-defendant Ron Shirer, 22, of Willoughby Hills, is scheduled to be tried Jan. 24.
The alleged ringleader, 21-year-old Euclid resident Kyle Basinger, is set for trial Feb. 6.

Since then Basinger and Shirer have both pleaded guilty to aggravated murder. Basinger on Wednesday (1/25) and Shirer earlier today (1/30).

I'm not going to be posting the articles in full mainly because there are a lot of rehashed facts, but as always the article's headline will link you to the original source

*also, anything in pink italics (like this) was added by me


Basinger pleads, gets life term in death of Putzbach (with video)
By: Tracey Read Published: Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Kyle Basinger thanked the parents of William Andrew Fayne Putzbach Wednesday for letting him live even though he didn’t give their son that luxury.

Basinger, 22, of Euclid, pleaded guilty in Lake County Common Pleas Court to aggravated murder.

Judge Joe Gibson then immediately adopted the joint recommendation of prosecutors and defense attorneys of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Basinger admitted strangling Putzbach, a 21-year-old Willowick man, with a chain and then stuffing his body in his car April 10 at the Willoughby Hills Towers apartment complex.

“Will was a good man, he really was,” Basinger said. “Due to my severe drug addiction, I made a decision I’ll regret for the rest of my life.”

Basinger, who cried at times in court, said he’s thankful the victim’s family agreed to the plea deal that took away capital punishment as a possible penalty.

The high school dropout added that his two co-defendants, Nathaniel Brown and Ronald Shirer, need to admit their guilt as well so everyone involved can heal.

“Ron and Nate were just pawns to help me carry (the murder) out,” said Basinger. “But I can only hope that Nate and Ron can show some remorse and actually say they did it.”

Shirer, 22, of Willoughby Hills, is scheduled to go on trial May 8. (not exactly sure when his trial date changed, but this was still before Shirer's plea)

Chief Assistant Lake County Prosecutor Karen Kowall called the crime senseless.

“They lured William Putzbach to come to the apartment complex that night,” she said.

Basinger also asked him to get him marijuana as a favor(this statement makes me think that will did not actively sell weed, but more likely just knew where to get some good shit. could just be in this reporters phrasing tho). Once at the complex, Basinger began choking him to get his bank PIN number. Once he got the number, he continued to choke him until he died, she said.

Afterward, Basinger drove around in Putzbach’s car for days and used his credit cards while numerous people searched for the victim.

Putzbach’s mother, Cathy Fayne of Cleveland, worked with her son at a local factory and described him as a hard worker who would do anything for anybody.

“It’s unforgivable what they did to my child,” she said.

Basinger nodded his head, “Yes,” while the victim’s mother described her son’s good qualities.

Frederick Putzbach, the victim’s father, said he’s still having a hard time coping with his son’s murder.

“I’m trying to understand how senseless and evil one man could be to another,” he said. “I’ve had numerous sleepless nights. An excuse for me to start drinking again.

“I’d like to see a slow, agonizing, painful death. Life in prison without parole is still too lenient in my eyes. Unfortunately, I will not be able to see you die. That’s my only regret.”



Ronald Shirer pleads guilty to aggravated murder - UPDATED
By: Tracey Read Published: Monday, January 30, 2012

(for whatever reason, there is video of Shirer entering his plea but it is not included in the original article, here is the direct link, if interested)

The last of three men charged in the killing of William Andrew Fayne Putzbach has admitted taking part in the murder.

Ronald Shirer, 22, whose most recent address was on East 332^nd Street in Eastlake, pleaded guilty Monday in Lake County Common Pleas Court to aggravated murder.

Putzbach, 21, of Willowick, was murdered April 10 at Willoughby Hills Towers apartment complex.

“We planned to steal his marijuana and credit cards. I was to be there as backup,” Shirer said. “I assisted by holding his legs down.”

Due to his cooperation in the case, prosecutors have jointly agreed with public defenders Terry Hess and Margaret Campbell to recommended he be sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 20 years.

However, Judge Richard L. Collins Jr. will have the final say when Shirer is sentenced Feb. 27.

The victim’s father, Frederick Putzbach, said he does not believe Shirer has genuine remorse.

“I believe his admission today is only being done to save himself,” the father said. “I want to see the sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. He should get the same as the other two.”

Co-defendant Nathaniel Brown, 22, of Willoughby Hills, is serving life without parole after being convicted by a jury of helping to kill the victim with a hammer.

Ringleader Kyle Basinger, 22, of Euclid, pleaded guilty last week to aggravated murder and is also serving life without parole. Basinger admitted strangling Putzbach with a chain and stuffing his body in his car.

Afterward, Basinger drove around in the victim’s car for days and he and Shirer used Putzbach’s credit cards.

Basinger said he lured Putzbach to the complex — where Shirer and Brown lived at the time — by asking him to get him marijuana as a favor.


LC-- any guess on why Shirer won't be sentenced until Feb 27, when Basinger's sentence was decided on the spot? is it the judge's decision when sentencing is actually handed down (different judges for basinger and shirer)

at least the parents don't have to sit thru three separate trials going over the same horrific details..

to answer your question, it's usually because Judge wants a pre-sentence report. defendant's history, etc. and any mental health reports.