HOWLAND Police search car of man found slain

The wife of the victim reported to police that her gun was stolen Nov. 26.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HOWLAND -- Authorities were combing a car for clues today in the killing of a 56-year-old Howland man.
Township Police Chief Steve Lamantia said the silver Chrysler missing from the home of Robert Fingerhut was found around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on Pershing Street in Youngstown.
There was blood inside.
"We are processing the car now in hopes of finding some clues," Lamantia said. "We still do not have a motive. We are trying to piece this together."
Fingerhut was found shot to death inside his home at 254 Fonderlac Drive around 12:25 a.m. Wednesday.
Donna Roberts, Fingerhut's wife, told call-takers at the emergency 911 center that she discovered her husband's body when she came home.
Roberts was hysterical when she called 911 and was not able to give many details, 911 officials said.
On the tape of the call, Roberts said her husband was on the kitchen floor and she did not find any weapons.
Police said Fingerhut's body was found near a door leading to the garage.
There were no signs of a forced entry, police said. Fingerhut was shot several times.
The Trumbull County coroner's office said an autopsy was performed Wednesday. Results are pending.
Police believe Fingerhut was shot with a handgun.
Township police obtained a copy of a report filed Nov. 26 by Roberts with Warren police. According to that report, Roberts said her handgun was stolen while she was at a convenience store in Warren.
Lamantia declined to say why his department was interested in that report.
Fonderlac Drive runs behind the Howland branch of the Butler Institute of American Art in an upscale neighborhood.
Neighbors say Fingerhut and Roberts lived there about 21/2 years and did not have any children.
Fingerhut managed the Greyhound bus stations in Warren and Youngstown, police said.
Employees of the bus stations described him as a nice man.
According to Vindicator files, Fingerhut and Roberts formerly operated Just the Ticket, a restaurant inside the Western Reserve Transit Authority bus terminal at Federal Street and Fifth Avenue in downtown Youngstown.