GIRARD CASE Mother to testify in trial about child endangering

The defense attorney said police think his client can help solve a homicide.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A Girard woman accused of seven counts of child endangering, including locking her son in the closet for several hours, is expected to testify today.
Vivian Dunkel, 27, who has pleaded innocent, will be the last witness called, said her attorney, Anthony Meranto of Youngstown.
"When Vivian is finished, we will rest our case," Meranto said. He said his client is innocent.
Meranto told jurors during opening statements Tuesday that his client was charged because she is dating Richard Harris.
Harris' wife died during a house fire in November 2000, Meranto said. Girard police are treating the death of Tammie L. Harris, 33, as a homicide, but no arrests have been made.
"The Girard police have not been able to solve the case, and they think my client knows something," Meranto said.
The defense attorney also said his client worked at a child-care center for 18 months without a complaint.
The case began Monday with jury selection in the courtroom of Judge Peter Kontos of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
Testimony
Tom Wrenn, an assistant county prosecutor, said Dunkel neglected and abused her two children, age 3 and 6.
An employee of the Trumbull County Children Services agency testified that the 3-year-old girl had abrasions on her body and was suffering from hair loss.
The boy, who was 6, testified that he was locked in the closet for several hours while his mother went to Six Flags Amusement Park in Aurora.
The prosecution rested its case Tuesday afternoon.
sinkovich@vindy.com