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Weapons seized in ’07 murder case
Five guns and 18 bomb parts were found in the defendant’s bedroom.
LISBON — Authorities have seized a number of weapons in an attempt to find the one used to kill Tonia Brundage Amato last year.
Authorities were notified of her shooting around 1:40 p.m. July 1, 2007.
Jack C. Amato Jr. said he shot her in the head in their Commerce Street home in Wellsville after she fired at him with a .22-caliber pistol during an argument.
Documents released Friday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court state that authorities had recovered a .45-caliber bullet that killed Tonia Amato — but not the weapon.
The search warrant released Friday states that the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s office, which performs autopsies for the county, confirmed on July 3, 2007, it had the fatal bullet.
The recent affidavit by county Sheriff’s Detective Lt. Andy Sweeney states, “The bullet, not having been fired from the firearm claimed to be used by J.C. Amato, leaves the murder weapon still to be found.”
Amato Jr. was released on bond. He was to live at the home of his father, Dr. Jack Amato, in Irondale in southern Columbiana. As a term of his bail, Amato Jr. had to wear an electronic monitor.
Dr. Amato is president of the county board of health. He also is an avid shooter with a range inside his home.
Sweeney said Amato Jr. was told not to have any weapons in his possession, a common order for people facing a felony charge who want to be released on bond.
Authorities on Wednesday executed a search warrant at the doctor’s home in search of the murder weapon.
Five weapons and 18 homemade bomb parts were found in the bedroom of Amato Jr.
The weapons included:
UA .30-caliber carbine with two loaded clips.
UA .38 revolver and ammunition.
UA loaded .22 rifle.
UA loaded .30 carbine.
UA shotgun loaded with five shells.
The Youngstown Bomb Squad was called to remove the bomb parts. Sweeney said the parts have not been destroyed.
Authorities also seized all the .45-caliber weapons they could find, Sweeney added.
That included six pistols and a derringer. The weapons were taken from a gun room closet, the master bedroom, the library, and what authorities described as the gun-loading room.
Some gun enthusiasts load their own bullets. Authorities also seized 80 empty .45-caliber bullet casings from the gun-loading room and a kitchen cupboard.
All will be sent for testing at the Ohio Bureau of Identification and Investigation.
Atty. Lynn A. Grimshaw of Wheelersburg has been appointed special prosecutor in the case against Amato Jr. He has not returned calls.
Grimshaw was appointed after county Prosecutor Robert Herron officially stepped down because of a conflict of interest. He is officially the lawyer for the county health department.
Amato Jr. could be charged for having weapons while facing a felony charge.
It wasn’t clear if Grimshaw would consider another charge against Amato Jr., or whether another special prosecutor would have to be appointed.
James Hartford, who represents Amato Jr., could not be reached.
wilkinson@vindy.com