Body found at Wal-Mart might be that of killing suspect, police say

STAFF REPORT

AUSTINTOWN — The dead man found in his truck at Wal-Mart could be a suspect in a murder, township police said.

Police said the man was discovered at about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday inside a silver 2005 Dodge Ram by a Wal-Mart employee. Detective Sgt. Doug Scharsu said the truck had been in the parking lot since about 10 a.m. April 13.

Scharsu said a heavy tint on the back windows likely kept passersby from spotting the body.

“Even getting your face right up against the glass, it was so dark that it was hard to see a body there,” he said. “That probably prevented someone from seeing it sooner.”

When officers arrived, the body was found lying in the back seat of the truck, and a chrome semi-automatic handgun was found on the floor.

The truck is registered to Dennis Burley, 52, of Akron, who was wanted in connection with the April 13 murder of 28-year-old Sarah Takacst in Cuyahoga Falls. Police said it’s possible the body is Burley’s, but they cannot confirm that until the Mahoning County Coronor’s office finishes its autopsy report. The autopsy was scheduled for Thursday.

When contacted, Wal-Mart managers said they have no additional information and are not permitted to give further comment.