Sheriff's office takes over murder probe

The daughter found dead with her mother had pending drug charges.
By TIM YOVICH
Vindicator Trumbull Staff
NEWTON FALLS -- The investigation into the murder of a woman and her daughter has been turned over to the Trumbull County Sheriff's Department.
"They have a little more manpower and equipment," Frank Tomaino, Newton Township police chief, said Tuesday.
The burned bodies of Wanda Rollyson, 70, and her 45-year-old daughter, Rebecca Cliburn of Warren, were discovered Thursday evening in the basement of Rollyson's home at 3754 Newton-Bailey Road.
The bodies were burned beyond recognition, and the county coroner has not issued a cause of death.
Shortage of officers
The chief pointed out that the department has only two full-time officers -- himself and another officer. He pointed out that an additional 2.75-mill levy to maintain the police department failed in the Nov. 8 general election.
Although the sheriff's department investigates, Tomaino said, his department will assist and will be able to patrol the township.
Police were called to the rural home by a grand-niece, Melissa Berry of Austintown, who went to the house to check on Rollyson.
She smelled something burning and called 911.
Tomaino would not speculate on a motive for the killings.
The women were identified during the weekend by relatives who were shown jewelry that the two women were wearing when they died.
Tomaino said he's not sure of a motive, including the possibility that drugs were involved, nor would he say what, if anything, was taken from the house.
Cliburn was secretly indicted by a Trumbull County grand jury on charges of trafficking in cocaine and aggravated trafficking in drugs. She was free on $5,000 bond pending trial.
Burglary earlier
The house was the scene of a recent burglary.
Someone had broken in by putting a hole through the window on the back door. Tomaino said syringes were taken. Rollyson, who had diabetes, used the syringes to inject insulin.
All of Rollyson and Cliburn's relatives have been interviewed by police, the chief noted.
A neighbor described Rollyson as a churchgoing woman whose husband died about two years ago.
The neighbor, Sandy Sanford, said that Rollyson's grandchildren seemed to take over the house after the death. The neighbor said that Rollyson seemed to get her life in order, but that she was bothered by something about two weeks ago when Sanford met Rollyson in a grocery store.
yovich@vindy.com