TRUMBULL COUNTY Grand jury to decide if Vernon man will be indicted in tampering case
BROOKFIELD -- A Trumbull County grand jury will decide if a 46-year-old Vernon Township man will be indicted on tampering with evidence charges.
Bruce Coxson waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday in Eastern District Court. Judge Ronald Rice sent Coxson's case to the grand jury.
Coxson, who has pleaded innocent and is being held in the county jail on $100,000 bond, was arrested last week. The charge does not specify what he did.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has said Coxson is "a person of interest" in the murder of Charles Palm, 26, of Greenville, Pa.
Palm was found dead Oct. 10 in the Shenango Wildlife area of Vernon Township. He was shot three times, according to the patrol.
The OSHP has also arrested Craig R. Kroner, 22, of Warner Road, Brookfield, on a charge of tampering with evidence. He also is described by the patrol as "a person of interest" in Palm's death.
Kroner pleaded innocent Thursday in Eastern District Court and is being held in the county jail on $250,000 bond awaiting another court appearance Monday.
Investigators searched Kroner's home and another house on Milligan East Road in Vernon Township on Tuesday. It is not known what was found because the warrant has been sealed, officials said.
The patrol investigates criminal activity on state-owned or leased property.