Man sentenced in killing, cover-up

The victim and the defendant were into ‘substance abuse,’ a lawyer said.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Brian Gasior will spend 17 years in prison for killing a friend he argued with and using fire to try to cover up the crime.

Gasior, 40, of Struthers, appeared in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Monday afternoon to enter his guilty plea and be sentenced by Judge Jack Durkin.

In a plea agreement, a murder charge was amended to voluntary manslaughter. He also pleaded guilty to aggravated arson and abuse of a corpse.

Stan Makarski, 47, of Broadway Street was found dead inside his apartment July 24, 2007. The suspicious fire, in which Makarski’s two cats also perished, turned out to be a homicide. Detective Sgt. John Patton said the victim was beaten to death and then the fire was set.

A coroner’s report shows Makarski had blunt force injuries that resulted in multiple skull fractures. Gasior was arrested the day of the homicide and has been in jail since then.

In court Monday, Judge Durkin sentenced Gasior to 17 years, followed by up to five years of probation. The judge imposed no fine or court costs because Gasior is indigent.

Jennifer McLaughlin, assistant Mahoning County prosecutor, read a letter in court from two of Makarski’s sisters who live out of state. The sisters described their brother as a giving, loving, talented artist whose artwork was destroyed in the fire.

Gasior, in leg irons and handcuffs, stood with his head down as the letter was read. Afterward, he had a chance to address the judge.

“Ain’t a day goes by I don’t think about what happened, if I could change it, I would,” Gasior said. “If I could change places with him, I would, and I’m sorry, I really am. I don’t blame drugs — things got out of hand. I hope the family can forgive me.”

Gasior’s lawyer, John B. Juhasz, said his client and Makarski hung out together and were into substance abuse. The lawyer said they got into an argument, “Stan ends up dead and Brian panics.”

Juhasz said Gasior does not have a history of violence. “He feels horrible about what happened.

Judge Durkin said he prays time will heal for the victim’s family. “I do see genuine remorse,” he said.