Wife finds husband shot to death

YOUNGSTOWN — The wife of the owner of Cotton Automotive Service on McGuffey Road found her husband shot to death inside the business Thursday night.

John A. Cotton, 66, of Early Road, was found in a pool of blood in his office around 9:40 p.m. Thursday, shot either in the chest or back.

The motive may have been robbery, said Capt. Kenneth Centorame, chief of detectives. He said the victim had been dead for several hours, adding the time of death will be determined by the coroner.

Centorame said there were no apparent signs of forced entry. He described Cotton as a reputable, well-liked businessman who’d operated the automotive shop for a long time.

Detective Sgt. Rick Spotleson, lead investigator, was out Friday interviewing witnesses. Centorame said there are a lot of people to talk to in order to determine who last had contact with the victim.

Read more in Saturday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com