HOWLAND 2 jailed, charged in man's slaying

The victim was found shot to death Dec. 13 in his kitchen.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HOWLAND -- Police charged Donna Roberts and a Youngstown man with aggravated murder and aggravated burglary in the death of her husband, Robert Fingerhut.
Township police, Trumbull County Sheriff Department's SWAT team, Warren police and the Violent Crimes Task Force arrested Roberts at her Fonderlac Drive home Thursday evening. Police said Roberts and Fingerhut, both 57, lived together but were in the process of separating.
Police later arrested Nathaniel Jackson, 29, of Wirt Street, Youngstown, who they said was the shooter. Police said Jackson would not come out of the house and they had to spend several minutes trying to persuade Jackson to surrender.
"The officers on the scene had to use a bullhorn to talk to him and get him out," said Ernie Cook, chief of operations at the sheriff's department.
Police noted that Jackson had been released Dec. 3 from Grafton Correctional Institution.
"The investigation and arrests were a great cooperative effort between several agencies," said Cook. "Everyone had a part to do and all did it well."
Fingerhut's body was found Dec. 13 in the kitchen of his home, 254 Fonderlac. Police said he was shot several times.
Next step: Roberts and Jackson were taken to the sheriff's department for questioning and were held overnight pending their appearance in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court later today.
Police Chief Steve Lamantia and Sheriff Thomas Altiere declined to give specifics about the arrests. Officials said an affidavit will be released later today that will give details of the matter.
Roberts called 911 on Dec. 13 to report that she found her husband's body when she returned home.
Police said that it did not appear that anyone broke into the home but that a car belonging to Fingerhut had been stolen. The car was found Dec. 13 on Pershing Street in Youngstown.
What's suspected: 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.
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. Roberts also worked at the bus stations, officials said.
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.
sinkovich@vindy.com