Crime
Toddler Kozzar Lotut, Melissa Campbell and Gale Sanders Found Dead in Gnadenhutten, Ohio
GNADENHUTTEN, Ohio — Authorities have identified three people, including a 22-month-old boy, who were found dead with apparent gunshot wounds inside a residence in Gnadenhutten, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, early Wednesday morning.
The Tuscarawas County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased as Kozzar J. Lotut, 22 months; Melissa E. Campbell, 51; and Gale F. Sanders, 67. Their bodies were transported to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsies, according to a statement released Thursday.
The cause and manner of death for all three individuals remain pending. Authorities have not yet disclosed the circumstances that led to the deaths or announced whether anyone has been charged.
According to the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began at approximately 4:17 a.m. Wednesday when the county’s 911 dispatch center received a hang-up call.
The call disconnected almost immediately and did not provide a location that dispatchers could trace directly.
In a statement, the sheriff’s office said dispatchers attempted to call the number back several times. During one of those calls, a voice could reportedly be heard softly saying the word “help.”
Dispatchers and deputies made multiple attempts to trace the phone and establish its location. Investigators later learned that the device might be in the 200 block of North Cherry Street in Gnadenhutten.
The sheriff’s office said the phone’s owner initially indicated that it was a spare device he had loaned to an associate.
Authorities said a family member was eventually located and unlocked the door to the residence, allowing responders to discover the three deceased individuals inside.
The victims consisted of one child, one adult man and one adult woman. According to the sheriff’s office, all three appeared to have suffered gunshot wounds.
A firearm was also recovered at the scene, officials said.
Investigators have not publicly established how the three individuals died, whether the deaths were connected to one another or what circumstances preceded the discovery. The presence of a firearm does not, by itself, establish how it was used or who may have been involved.
The Tuscarawas County Coroner’s Office ordered autopsies to help determine the cause and manner of death for Lotut, Campbell and Sanders.
In its Thursday statement, the office said the investigation remained ongoing and that additional information would be released when available and appropriate.
Officials have not announced a definitive cause of death for any of the three individuals.
The identities of the deceased have now been released, but important questions surrounding the incident remain unanswered as investigators continue examining evidence and interviewing people connected to the case.
The Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged that investigators still have significant work ahead, including interviewing multiple people and examining evidence collected at the scene.
Despite the ongoing investigation, the sheriff’s office expressed confidence that the broader community was not in danger.
“There are many people to interview and much to do with evidence from the scene but I feel strongly that the community is in no danger,” the sheriff’s office stated.
No further details about a possible suspect, motive or sequence of events were included in the information released.
The investigation into the deaths of Kozzar J. Lotut, Melissa E. Campbell and Gale F. Sanders remains active. Authorities say additional information may be released as the investigation progresses and as appropriate.
Crime
Tyson Grant Charged in Death of 15-Year-Old Trenton Grant in Monroe Township, Michigan
MONROE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A 27-year-old Monroe Township man has been charged in connection with the death of 15-year-old Trenton Grant and the serious injuries suffered by the teenager’s mother and stepfather following a violent stabbing incident in Monroe Township, Michigan.
Tyson Alexander Grant faces six criminal charges stemming from an incident reported during the early morning hours of Saturday, October 17, in the 1200 block of Raintree Boulevard, according to Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffery A. Yorkey.
The charges include open murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder, two counts of carjacking, and one count of assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer or other first responder.
According to the prosecutor’s office, each of the first five charges carries a maximum possible penalty of life in prison. The charge of assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer or first responder carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and/or a $2,000 fine.
Authorities were dispatched to the Raintree Boulevard area on October 17 after receiving a report of a stabbing.
Upon arriving at the scene, deputies discovered multiple people suffering from lacerations and stab wounds. They also found the body of 15-year-old Trenton Grant.
Several people were transported to a hospital for treatment. Investigators subsequently began treating the teenager’s death as a homicide.
The incident prompted a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal stabbing and the injuries sustained by the other victims.
Prosecutors have not publicly disclosed the nature of the relationship, if any, between Tyson Alexander Grant and the victims.
According to the Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Tyson Alexander Grant is currently hospitalized in Lucas County, Ohio, with injuries stemming from the incident.
Prosecutors intend to seek his extradition to Monroe County after he is discharged from the hospital so the criminal proceedings can move forward.
As of the latest information provided by prosecutors, a date for Grant’s initial court appearance has not been scheduled.
The six charges reflect the allegations filed against Grant. The case remains subject to the judicial process, and the allegations have not yet been proven in court.
Authorities have not provided additional details about the events leading up to the stabbing or the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s injuries.
The investigation and court proceedings are expected to provide further information as the case develops.
