Judge considers closing suit
The investigation into a 2002 murder is continuing.
LISBON — A judge will decide whether to close a lawsuit connected to a murder.
Columbiana County Judge C. Ashley Pike wrote an entry recently noting that the case was filed in September 2005 but that there had been no action in the case since September 2006.
In the civil action, Steven P. Roberts, the administrator of the estate of his brother, Craig Roberts, filed the case to question authorities and other people. The goal, according to the lawsuit, was to gain information to be used in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Craig Roberts, 43, was found shot to death in his home in Wellsville in 2002. He was shot twice in the head while in his bedroom. There were several people in the house at the time. No one has been charged.
Columbiana County Prosecutor Robert Herron said that Judge Pike’s order called for anyone who objected to closing the lawsuit to file a motion with the court. The judge gave parties to the lawsuit until Monday to act.
Judge Pike wrote that the case can be reopened at a later date. He stated he was closing it to comply with Ohio Supreme Court guidelines on case management.
Herron said Monday that since his office isn’t opposed to the action, it filed no objection.
The investigation into the murder is ongoing. The prosecutor said his office had talked to a person about the murder about two weeks ago. The person provided solid information that corroborated what investigators already knew, Herron said.