By MARK TODD and Stacy Millberg — DENMARK TOWNSHIP — The Cuyahoga County coroner’s office will spend the next several months trying to determine if pieces of charred bone and clothing found in trash bags along a lonely gravel road belong to a Cleveland man reported missing last week, officials said.
Eight large garbage bags containing the items were found by a farmer early Wednesday evening along Stollaker Road in Denmark Township, Sheriff William Johnson said. The bags contain bone fragments and pieces of clothing that may be connected to the disappearance of 25-year-old John Maruschak, he said.
The bags and their contents have been sent to the Cuyahoga County coroner’s office for DNA analysis, Johnson said.
“The (Cuyahoga County coroner’s office) Trace Evidence Team will sift through that debris,” said Rich Mongell, Ashtabula County Coroner’s office chief investigator.
Paul Ceasar of the Cuyahoga County coroner’s office said the office received three specimen bags, but it is unknown what those specimens are at this time.
“I don’t know if there are (human) remains in there or not,” he said. “We are in possession of specimens.”
Ceasar said the coroner’s office will not know what the specimens are until testing is completed, which could take anywhere from two to three months. Officials have not begun testing yet, he said.
The bags were found a short distance from property on Route 167 searched by Cleveland police detectives and divers earlier this week. The bags were found at the edge of the road east of Route 193, Johnson said. A farmer who went to check his property after reading accounts of the search made the discovery, he said.
“(The farmer) saw debris off the side of the road,” Johnson said.
Deputies were summoned to the scene at 8:37 a.m., he said.
An affidavit filed in Eastern County Court this week by detectives seeking a search warrant indicates police believe Maruschak was beaten to death with a baseball bat at a Cleveland home on July 16. The affidavit states Alex Wulff, 25, admitted striking Maruschak with a bat after he broke into his home.
Wulff eventually took the body to land owned by his father on Route 167, according to the affidavit. After spending six hours burning the body, Wulff indicated he disposed of the ashes at a spot “around the corner” of the fire site, according to the affidavit.
Wulff and his brother, Aaron Wulff, 19, pleaded not guilty in a Cleveland court this week to charges of felonious assault and kidnapping. Bond was set at $750,000 for each defendant.
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
Pieces of charred bone may be linked to murder
Coroner’s office to spend months examining items
- Local News
-
-
Six ready to interview for Buckeye’s super job
The Buckeye Local Board of Education will conduct interviews with six superintendent hopefuls next week, said Board President Jacqueline Hillyer.
-
Shooting suspect to be tried as adult
A 17-year-old will be tried as an adult in the school shooting deaths of three students, a juvenile court judge ruled Thursday after hearing a sheriff’s deputy describe how the teen wore a T-shirt with the word “Killer” and admitted shooting people.
-
Ohio EPA takes AIM at site of hazardous wastes
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency staff members returned this week to the site of the now-bankrupt Ashtabula Iron and Metal on West 30th Street to take samples of the unknown liquids and analyze hazardous wastes, asbestos and other potential health and environmental concerns.
-
Commissioners look at selling nursing beds
Commissioners have retained the services of a law firm that specializes in the sale of excess nursing home beds as the board looks at ways to raise additional revenues.
-
Conneaut looks at demolition funds
The city is making preparations to secure its share of nearly $692,000 in demolition funds expected to be Ashtabula County’s portion of a multi-billion dollar settlement with national mortgage lenders.
-
Volunteers get more help than needed at rescue spot
Despite their good intentions, Edward and Mary proved more hindrance than help to the Conneaut KeyBank employees lending a helping hand Thursday to a farm animal rescue operation in Kingsville Township.
-
220 graduate at Lakeside
Thursday night was a time of pomp, circumstance and smiles as 220 seniors graduated from Lakeside High School.
-
Lost money?
There is no map, and “X” may not mark the spot, but hundreds of Ashtabula County residents may have unclaimed cash ready and waiting for them through the Ohio Department of Commerce.
-
Lane to be tried as adult in Chardon High shooting
A 17-year-old boy will be tried as an adult in the school shooting deaths of three students, a juvenile court judge ruled Thursday.
-
Happy Hearts School holds commencement for its Class of 2012
As commencement exercises go in Ashtabula County, the one at Happy Hearts School was small, with just five students.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Six ready to interview for Buckeye’s super job
