Warren cops probe homicide of Donovan Toles, 23

WARREN — Police have identified the body found in the woods behind Western Reserve Middle School as Donovan L. Toles, 23, of Laird Avenue Southeast, who was reported missing by his family in mid-October.

The Trumbull County coroner has ruled the death a homicide as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.

Warren police talked to a girlfriend and various members of Toles’ family on Oct. 17, some of them saying they had received text messages on their telephones indicating that Toles was had been abducted and his body could be found near Tod Place Northwest or Mike Place Southwest.

Police checked the area of Tod Place near the former St. Joseph Hospital but did not locate him.

A hunter found Toles’ body in a wooded area off of Hamilton Street Southwest, a little more than a mile west of Mike Place, on Saturday afternoon.

Police are continuing the investigation this week but have made no arrests yet, said Sgt. Jeff Cole of the Warren Police Department.