Rape charges added for Niles teen charged with murder of elderly neighbor

WARREN

The 15-year-old Niles boy charged with aggravated murder in the March 31 death of his 94-year-old neighbor now also is charged with attempting to rape her, as well as aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery.

Affidavits released Friday say police and an ambulance were called to the Lafayette Avenue home of Jacob O. Larosa that afternoon for injuries to Larosa before they even knew Marie Belcastro had died.

They found Larosa vomiting halfway in the bathroom and hallway of his home with blood on his hands and underwear and wearing no pants, police said.

About that time, police learned that Belcastro’s daughter, Debbie O’Leary, was outside Belcastro’s house on Cherry Street around the corner from Larosa’s house. Police went inside to find Belcastro dead with no pants on and her legs “twisted.”

Larosa, who was taken to St. Joseph Warren Hospital, initially told police he had not been in Belcastro’s house and said he heard screams and saw other people inside.

Later, he said he had been in the house that day but only to get $10 and then later to get change for a candy bar.

Police looked at a neighbor’s surveillance video, which showed Larosa “on the side door” of Belcastro’s house that day, the affidavit said, adding that the door was broken.

Larosa was arraigned Friday morning in Trumbull County Juvenile Court, where his charges were read to him. He was not required to enter a plea. His mother, Megan Lucariello, and father, Edward Larosa, stood toward the rear of the courtroom. His mother sobbed through part of the hearing.

Read more about the case in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.