Man gets 15 years to life for 2013 homicide

YOUNGSTOWN — Leo Kellish could not stop shaking and tried to hold back tears today as an assistant prosecutor described to a judge some of the injuries he inflicted on a man he pleaded guilty to killing.

Mahoning County Assistant Prosecutor Martin Desmond told Common Pleas Judge Lou D’Apolito about the severe beating endured by 70-year-old Dennis Simmons early Thanksgiving morning 2013 inside his Shirley Road home. Simmons’ niece, Jennifer Freeman, said the brutal way her uncle died will stick with her for years to come.

“The horror of the last moments of his life is something that haunts our family,” Freeman said. “Thanksgiving will always be a memory of a horrible thing that happened.”

Kellish, 34, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison by Judge D’Apolito for the Nov. 28 death of Simmons, who was found beaten to death about 3:20 a.m. in the driveway of his home in the 2400 block of Shirley Road.

Kellish pleaded guilty to a charge of murder Tuesday, just after a jury was selected to hear his case.

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