02-24-2011, 06:42 PM
http://news-herald.com/articles/2011/02/...829307.txt
James P. Leider charged with murder of couple in Ashtabula County
Published: Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday the arrest of a Geneva Township man on charges that accuse him of killing Cord Cox and Betheny Mehall.
James P. Leider, 20, of Geneva Township, has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder. Ashtabula County Sheriff William Johnson said the homicides appear to be drug-related and that Leider, Cox and Mehall were familiar with each other.
Johnson declined to elaborate further on the specific circumstances that spurred Leider to allegedly shoot the young couple.
Mehall, 25, of Geneva, and Cox, 23, of Austinburg Township, were discovered dead in a car on Sunday afternoon on Harpersfield Road in Harpersfield Township.
A autopsy conducted by the Ashtabula County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death to be gunshots to the back of both individuals’ heads.
According to reports, the engine was still running when authorities arrived.
It is believed Leider shot both victims while in the back seat of the vehicle.
He is currently being held in jail on a $5 million bond. If convicted, Johnson said Leider faces the possibility of life in prison with no chance of parole.
According to Johnson, technology from the FBI and Secret Service aided in the investigation. The sheriff firmly believes the department has the evidence necessary to convict Leider.
“I believe we have absolutely everything needed for a concrete case,” he said.
James P. Leider charged with murder of couple in Ashtabula County
Published: Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday the arrest of a Geneva Township man on charges that accuse him of killing Cord Cox and Betheny Mehall.
James P. Leider, 20, of Geneva Township, has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder. Ashtabula County Sheriff William Johnson said the homicides appear to be drug-related and that Leider, Cox and Mehall were familiar with each other.
Johnson declined to elaborate further on the specific circumstances that spurred Leider to allegedly shoot the young couple.
Mehall, 25, of Geneva, and Cox, 23, of Austinburg Township, were discovered dead in a car on Sunday afternoon on Harpersfield Road in Harpersfield Township.
A autopsy conducted by the Ashtabula County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death to be gunshots to the back of both individuals’ heads.
According to reports, the engine was still running when authorities arrived.
It is believed Leider shot both victims while in the back seat of the vehicle.
He is currently being held in jail on a $5 million bond. If convicted, Johnson said Leider faces the possibility of life in prison with no chance of parole.
According to Johnson, technology from the FBI and Secret Service aided in the investigation. The sheriff firmly believes the department has the evidence necessary to convict Leider.
“I believe we have absolutely everything needed for a concrete case,” he said.