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Case to be heard by grand jury
YOUNGSTOWN
The Youngstown man accused of killing his girlfriend inside his South Side home in late February will have his case heard by a Mahoning County grand jury.
Gregory Carlini appeared Monday before Magistrate Anthony Sertick Monday for a scheduled preliminary hearing in Youngstown Municipal Court, but chose to waive his right to have that hearing. He is represented by Atty. J. Gerald Ingram.
Sertick ruled the charges will be sent to the grand jury. He continued the $1 million bond placed on Carlini at the time of his arraignment.
Police found Erica Elford, 33, dead of a gunshot wound to the head just before 11 p.m. Feb. 26 at Carlini’s home in the 1900 block of Bancroft Avenue on the South Side. Police arrested 33-year-old Carlini at the scene.
Members of Elford’s family were present in court for the hearing, but did not want to speak with reporters.
Police have said Carlini is believed to have been Elford’s boyfriend. Elford, however, was married with three children. Police said there is no reported history of domestic violence between the two.
Police arrived at Carlini’s home just before 11 p.m. and could see a shirtless Carlini nervously walking around the inside of the house accompanied by two large dogs.
When officers knocked on Carlini’s door, he let the dogs out and then invited officers into the house and told them what led to his girlfriend’s death.
Carlini reportedly told officers that Elford had been playing with his gun and he ended up shooting her.
Police found Elford lying in a bed in a back bedroom, with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the mouth. Police found the gun believed to have been used in the shooting and bullets on a kitchen counter.