METRO DIGEST || Woman identified

Woman identified

YOUNGSTOWN

Police have identified a woman found dead in the bathroom of the Fifth Avenue Taco Bell restaurant as 22-year-old Cassie Marie Alderman of Irondale, Ohio.

Employees at the restaurant called police about 1:30 p.m. Thursday after finding Alderman unresponsive in the bathroom. Both Youngstown State University and Youngstown police responded to the call. According to police reports, Alderman was found seated in the bathroom with her pants on but shirt removed. A syringe was found on the floor next to her body.

Alderman had been charged with criminal trespass on allegations of using drugs in the bathroom of a McDonald’s restaurant not far from the Taco Bell. There was a warrant for her arrest in that case. The Mahoning County Coroner’s office and city police are investigating.

DeGennaro benefit

STRUTHERS

A trash & treasure event to benefit Andrea DeGennaro is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at St. Nicholas Church, 764 Fifth St. here.

The event will include a bake sale, vendor sales, a 50-50 raffle and an auction.

Friends are raising money to build a ground-level addition to the home of DeGennaro’s mother, with whom Andrea lives.

DeGennaro, 39, a 1990 graduate of Struthers High School, has multiple sclerosis and lives in a small, upstairs bedroom because the bathroom is upstairs. It has become increasingly difficult for her to use the stairs.

The campaign goal is to raise $28,000 to build a 16-by-25-foot, ground-level addition to the home with a bedroom, bath and laundry. They hope to break ground this spring.

2 years’ probation

YOUNGSTOWN

A 44-year-old Berlin Center woman was placed on two years’ probation for stealing from Nicolinni’s Ristorante in Boardman.

Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court gave the probation to Kimberly A. Hladun, of Duck Creek Road, a 15-year restaurant employee. Hladun earlier pleaded guilty to taking $50,000 from the business, according to The Vindicator’s media partner, 21 WFMJ-TV.

A separate civil lawsuit will determine how much of the money Hladun will have to repay to the insurance company that covered the loss.

Woman pleads guilty

LISBON

A Stark County woman has admitted stealing thousands of dollars from her Columbiana County employer. Frances Rodgers, 62, pleaded guilty this week to money-laundering charges in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, according to The Vindicator’s media partner, 21 WFMJ-TV. She was office manager at Family Practice of Salem.

An audit determined that between 2006 and 2010, Rodgers had opened up fraudulent accounts totaling $440,000. She is to be sentenced in May.

More Digest on A7