Man offers reward for information on brother's death

The Youngstown man has posted fliers along Lee Avenue and Steel Street.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Zak Baker is convinced someone knows something.
Though police in Weathersfield Township continue to investigate the vehicular homicide of his brother, 30-year-old Kevin Dietz, there last month, Baker is hoping someone will come forward with information.
The Youngstown man is also looking for anyone who can help explain how his 18-month-old niece, whom Dietz was watching the night he died, ended up wandering in back yards along Lee Avenue in Youngstown around midnight Nov. 8.
"The baby was just dropped off, wearing nothing but a diaper," he said. "Maybe someone was out on their porch that night and saw something. If they did, maybe it could help."
Dietz's family and friends are offering a $500 reward to anyone with substantial information and details about the whereabouts of the father and daughter that night.
Baker has posted several fliers along Lee Avenue and Steel Street, where Dietz lived with his wife and children.
Dietz's body was found around 5 a.m. Nov. 9 on Bundy Lane in Weathersfield, about 1,500 feet from Salt Springs Road, across the road from the LAS Recycling Landfill.
Arrest
A report was called in to the Trumbull County 911 center by 38-year-old Clayton Booker, who listed the Knights Inn Motel in Liberty as his address. Booker told police he had stopped to relieve himself when he saw a body lying in the road.
Police later charged Booker with aggravated vehicular homicide. He is being held in the Trumbull County jail on $5,000 bond awaiting action by a county grand jury.
Just hours before police were called to the scene on Bundy Lane, Youngstown police found Dietz's daughter wandering along Lee Avenue. The child is in the custody of Children Services. Baker and his wife are working with officials to get custody of the little girl.
Baker said Dietz was devoted to his children, even more so after he was the victim of a 1996 drive-by shooting at his Youngstown home.
"He was sitting on his porch when he was shot," Baker said. "It changed his life drastically. He lost use of his arm, which was tough on him because he worked construction. He started working any job he could to provide for his kids. He really straightened up his life then."
Reason for reward
Baker said he understands police are doing everything they can to continue with the investigation, but he hopes the reward money helps someone who may be reluctant to talk to come forward.
"I just don't want Kevin's death seen as some sort of drug deal gone wrong, or something like that," he said. "That wasn't the case at all."
Anyone with information can call Baker at (330) 716-8878, or the Weathersfield Police Department at (330) 652-6486.
slshaulis@vindy.com