Cop links slain man, suspect; judge orders affidavit unsealed

The man charged with murder says the victim pulled a gun on him.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN - An alert Niles policeman made the link between the slaying of an ailing 76-year-old Weathersfield man and his accused killer, Alan M. Francis.
Details of how World War II Army veteran John P. Crocker was shot, bludgeoned and had his throat slashed were released Wednesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
Judge John M. Stuard ordered a 10-page affidavit to be unsealed over objections of defense lawyers. The affidavit was used by Weathersfield Police Chief Joseph Consiglio to obtain an arrest warrant for Francis, 42, whose gave a Girard address, although police said he is a Niles man.
Francis, who has a police record of violence and drugs, pleaded innocent Wednesday before Judge Stuard to charges of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary.
Death-penalty case
County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said this may be a death-penalty case.
Judge Stuard ordered Francis to be held without bond. He was arrested Tuesday afternoon in the Trumbull County jail -- where he was being held on three counts of aggravated robbery and one count of robbery filed by Niles police.
Niles Police Chief Bruce Simeone characterized Francis as being on a "crime spree."
According to the affidavit, Francis was arrested by Niles police on charges there Nov. 23, two days after Crocker's body was found inside his Emerson Street home. Crocker suffered from pulmonary disease and emphysema and was always on an oxygen tube.
While Francis was being processed by Niles Patrol Officer Ron Wright, the policeman found Crocker's emergency notification card in Francis's pocket. Because of this, Consiglio and Simeone interviewed Francis.
Francis, a construction laborer, said he had no idea why Crocker's ID was in his pocket.
Francis told the chiefs that he met Crocker on Nov. 19, when he and a friend went to Crocker's home. The friend, who was not identified by name, wanted to borrow money from Crocker. Crocker wrote the friend a $100 check, which was cashed the same day.
The friend told police that Francis didn't go inside Crocker's house, but waited in a car. Later during questioning, Francis admitted he was in the house -- although it's unclear when. He went to borrow money by himself.
In the house under a ruse to use the phone, Francis told police, he turned his back on Crocker. When he turned around, he said Crocker had a gun pointed at him. Francis said he lunged for the gun and grabbed Crocker's wrist when the gun discharged three times.
Francis said he later sold the .38-caliber gun for crack cocaine from a dealer he knows only as "Marcus."
Police allege Francis used a pillow to muffle the sounds of the revolver being fired.
Francis told police two wallets were taken from Crocker. He said they were at a North Chestnut Street house in Niles, where he had been staying with Michele Hacker.
Wallets found
Weathersfield police searched the house and found two wallets, one of which was Crocker's. Crocker usually carried about $200 in the wallet, but it was empty when found by police.
Hacker told police that on Nov. 21 she noticed Francis in the backyard -- wearing only a towel in the cold -- burning clothing in a pan over a fire.
"What are you doing?" Hacker asked Francis. "You don't want to know. It's bad! Bad! Bad!" he responded. Hacker told police Francis got his work boots and put them in the fire.
This was the same day that Crocker was found dead in his bedroom by his stepson, Kenneth W. Watkins of Warren, who went to the house to check on his stepfather.
yovich@vindy.com