Slain man’s family, friends renew Brazil extradition efforts

Staff report

NEWTON FALLS

Family and friends of murdered airman Karl Hoerig are renewing their efforts to have Karl’s wife, Claudia Hoerig, brought back to the United States for trial.

Hoerig was killed in his Newton Falls home March 12, 2007. Claudia Hoerig, who fled to Brazil afterward, is charged with Karl Hoerig’s murder in Trumbull County, but Brazil has refused to extradite her.

To call attention to the case and President Barack Obama’s trip to Brazil March 19 to meet with new Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Hoerig family members are asking the public to lower their flags to half-staff for two weeks and to write to President Obama.

They ask that flags be lowered starting today and continuing for two weeks, until March 19, said Larry Diemand of Mentor. Diemand flew missions with Karl Hoerig in the U.S. Air Force while both were stationed at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna.

To write to President Obama, go to www.whitehouse.gov and click on “Contact us.”

To learn more, visit the “Justice For Karl Hoerig” page on Facebook.