Report says porn, cocaine and beer preceded Boardman man's death

BOARDMAN

The police report on the homicide investigation of Chris Craft’s death sheds new light on his last hours.

At 1:20 p.m. Sunday, several Boardman officers were sent to Craft’s home, 1736 Alverne Drive, on a report of a suicide. Craft’s friend — who called it in — said Craft “shot his face off,” according to the report.

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

As police have previously said, 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.

The male caller said Craft picked him up at about 10 p.m. Saturday and the two went back to Craft’s home. According to the police report, the male said he and Craft drank beer, did cocaine, and watched pornographic movies in the upstairs bedroom. The male said he last saw Craft at 6 a.m. Sunday when he gave him a Xanax and went downstairs.

The coroner’s office said Craft had been drinking alcohol and had pills in his system, but the full toxicology report won’t be available for a few weeks.

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

The male then called his father, and then police. Authorities and the coroner’s office arrived to investigate. The male was transported to Boardman’s police station for investigative purposes, read his rights “and afterwards he was transported to his residence,” according to the report.