Thursday, February 18, 2010
All accused in the killings of a mother and daughter have criminal records.
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HOMICIDE ARRESTS: Liberty Police Chief Richard Tisone tells of arrests and an ongoing investigation into a double homicide in Liberty.
LIBERTY — Five people involved in a double homicide Nov. 15 are being charged with two counts of aggravated murder, Chief Richard Tisone said Wednesday morning during a press conference at the township administration building.
Two people are in custody in connection with the murders of Wilneice L. Green and her 13-year-old daughter, Ja-Brajasia. They were killed at their residence, 3022 Northgate Drive,
Melvin L. Turner, 36, is being held by police in Baltimore, according to Liberty Police Chief Richard Tisone.
James M. Christian, 20, of Youngstown is in Trumbull County jail.
Arrest warrants issued by the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s office are out for three other people from Youngstown in connection with the shooting deaths. They are: Appolonia E. Baker, 25; Marquese J. Floyd, 25; and Denise L. Jackson, 25. Tisone said all those involved have criminal records.
Tisone said Turner was arrested recently by Baltimore police on another matter, but did not elaborate on the charge, and inter-agency information alerted Baltimore that Turner was being sought by Liberty PD. Turner fled to Baltimore, Tisone said, because he has family there.
Christian was arrested a couple of weeks ago in the Valley, Tisone said.
Other charges that may be filed include tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice.
Tisone said about 30 members of Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force were out Tuesday in the area “rattling doors” and he anticipated that the other three involved in the double homicide might be in custody “by the end of the day.” “The task force has the expertise,” Tisone said of the unit that will make the arrests. Liberty Patrolman Rob Altiere is in the unit.
It is believed that two of the three still being sought are in the Youngstown area, but Tisone did not name them. He said the perpetrators “traveled in the same circle.”
The task force’s activity has generated various tips in the case. Tisone said anyone with information on the whereabouts of Baker, Floyd and Jackson is asked to call the task force hot line at (330) 533-2017.
“They [Wilneice and Ja-Brajasia] were not the intended targets,” Tisone said. “They were in the wrong place at the wrong time.” He did say police believe a man was the intended target.
As for a motive, Tisone declined to discuss that aspect of the case. He said the motive will come out eventually.
The police chief, who has said he hasn’t had a good night’s sleep since the double homicide, credited “multiple police agencies,” Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms with assistance during various phases in the case. “A lot of hard-nosed detective work went into this,” he said, adding that LPD and others “worked a lot of overtime.”
Tisone said the victims’ family has been contacted and notified of the arrests and ongoing investigation.
The Green family attended Oak Baptist Church, 320 Elk St., Youngstown. Ja-Brajasia was an eighth-grader at William S. Guy Middle School, where she sang in the school choir. Pastor Sylvia Jennings of Oak Baptist delivered the eulogy at the funeral for the mother and daughter on Nov. 30, 2009. The family had attended church services the day of the murders. Green’s four other children, two girls and two boys, are with family.
linonis@vindy.com