Man found with West Side murder victim's car jailed on $100K bond

YOUNGSTOWN

The man who was arrested for being caught with the car belonging to an elderly homicide victim is in the Mahoning County jail on $100,000 bond.

Joseph Faunda, 44, was arraigned in municipal court before Magistrate Anthony Sertick on a charge of receiving stolen property. Faunda was arrested Monday afternoon on the charge by detectives investigating the slaying of 84-year-old Mykola Iwaniuk.

Iwaniuk was found dead in his home in the 1700 block of Oakwood Avenue on the West Side about 5:30 a.m. Jan. 21. A newspaper carrier called police after she noticed Iwaniuk’s door was open and all the lights in the home were on. A police report said informants told police Faunda was seen in Iwaniuk’s car, which was found a couple of hours after Iwaniuk was found in his home in Calvary Cemetery.

Assistant Prosecutor Shelli Freeze asked Magistrate Anthony Sertick for the high bond, saying that the vehicle he is accused of driving belonged to a man who was later killed.

So far, no charges have been filed in the death of Iwaniuk. Chief of Detectives Capt. Brad Blackburn said Wednesday that investigators still are pursuing leads in the case.

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