Boardman murder victim has lengthy criminal past

BOARDMAN

Cocaine, pornography and beer preceded the killing of Chris Craft in his Boardman home, a township police report says.

The report sheds new light on his last hours.

Police found Craft on his back on the floor in front of his computer, with his legs on a chair.

No weapon was found on or near him.

The death was ruled a homicide Tuesday by the Mahoning County Coroner’s office because someone had used a straight edge, possibly a kitchen knife, to attempt to cover up how he died, a blunt-force blow to the right side of his face.

According to the police report, the friend that called in the death said he and Craft drank beer, did cocaine and watched pornographic movies in the upstairs bedroom. The man said he last saw Craft at 6 a.m. Sunday when Craft gave him a Xanax and then went downstairs.

The man said he then came downstairs at noon and saw Craft on the floor. He said he saw only his arm and thought he was asleep. He went outside and drank two beers and then came back in and realized Craft was dead, he said.

When Craft lived in Warren County between Cincinnati and Dayton, both in Middletown and Franklin, he had run-ins with the law:

He served three days in Butler County’s jail for driving under the influence; was divorced after an allegation of domestic violence; served another DUI sentence; was charged with attempted possession of cocaine and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, and ordered to serve six months in Butler County jail, though that was suspended.

Closer to home, records there show he was charged with driving under the influence in south of Lisbo, in 2002. That was a Class 4 felony because it was his fourth offense within six years. He also received two traffic charges for that DUI,

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.