Pair indicted in Firestone Mansion blaze

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A Mahoning County grand jury Tuesday indicted a man and woman for their role in a fire Oct. 21 at the historic Firestone Mansion in North Lima.

Alexis Little, 20, of Sunnybrook Drive, and Brian J. McKinney, 20, of Lakeshore Drive, were each indicted on a charge of arson.

The blaze at 600 Lipply Road destroyed the 134-year-old home.

It had been a two-story, 2,720-square-foot house with eight bedrooms, right next to Pine Lake. The mansion was built at its original site, adjacent to the Fire-stone tire-testing facility, in 1880 by the Lower family, relatives of Harvey Firestone. The house also was known as the Lower Homestead.

Tom and Connie Ellison bought the house in 2011 and had it renovated in preparation for selling it.

The Ellisons say they do not know Little or McKinney, and cannot guess their motive.

“That place was like Grand Central Station over the past couple years,” said Tom Ellison. The Ellisons, who did not live at the house, allowed visitors onto the property.

“I’m just relieved it’s no one I know and it’s no one connected to me, as far as I know,” he said.

“It’s not going to bring my house back,” Tom said, but added that news of the indictments is “wonderful” and a big relief.

The value of the property was listed at $222,500 in Mahoning County auditor records. The house was not insured.

According to jail records, neither Little nor McKinney is in custody at this time.