Police say death of 56-year-old Warren man is a homicide

Staff report

WARREN

The Trumbull County coroner told the Warren Police Department that Donald L. Jones, 56, of 1003 Hemlock Ave. SW sustained blunt-force trauma, and his death is a homicide.

Police received an anonymous call at 3:03 p.m. Thursday from a person who said there was a smell coming from Jones’ house.

When police checked, they found Jones’ body inside. His body had “some decomposition,” Lt. Jeff Cole said, adding that he doesn’t know yet how long Jones had been dead.

Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk, Trumbull County coroner, made his observations at the residence about the injuries Jones suffered, Cole said.

Neighbors confirmed that there had been a smell coming from the residence, Cole said.

Cole said police had little knowledge of Jones because he had no criminal history, only a large number of traffic citations.

The homicide is the fifth in the city this year, the same number as during the entire year of 2012.

By this time in 2012, the city had only one homicide.