Shooting suspect is indicted

If convicted of the charges, the 24-year-old could face the death penalty.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A 24-year-old Youngstown man who has admitted killing two people has been indicted on two counts of capital murder.
John Staples of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard was to be arraigned today. If convicted, Staples could face the death penalty.
"I don't think capital charges are needed in this case," said Staples' legal counsel, Anthony Consoldane, of the Ohio Public Defender's Commission.
Staples is being held in the county jail without bond.
Staples is accused of the shooting deaths of Hope E. Houser, 34, of Campbell, who was employed by Burdman Group in Youngstown, and Wynn Bogan, 23, of Lowellville, a Burdman client.
Burdman Group provides vocational rehabilitation under a contract with the Mahoning County Mental Health Board. Staples also was a client.
Confession: According to an affidavit filed in court by the county prosecutor's office, Staples admitted to his mother and to police that he killed Houser and Bogan.
Police did not give a motive for the slayings but said that Staples made the comment that he "just snapped."
Consoldane said Staples has been under heavy medication and had psychological problems or he wouldn't be in the Burdman program.
Houser and Bogan were shot in the back of their heads at Belmont Avenue and Gypsy Lane as they sat in the front seat of a Burdman van. Houser was driving the two men to a work site.
Staples was arrested at his apartment shortly after the shooting. Police also found in the apartment a .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol and .380-caliber pistol. Police Chief Anthony Slifka said it appears the .25-caliber semiautomatic was used in the shooting.
sinkovich@vindy.com