Faunda gets 25 years to life in 84-year-old man's murder

YOUNGSTOWN — A 44-year-old Maryland Avenue man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in the murder of an 84-year-old Oakwood Avenue man.

Joseph Faunda drew the sentence this morning from Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Faunda had pleaded guilty on Oct. 14 to aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and receiving stolen property in the slaying of Mykola Iwaniuk, who was found dead at 5:30 a.m. Jan. 21 in his West Side residence.

A Vindicator carrier called police after she noticed Iwaniuk’s door open and all the lights on in his home.

Authorities on the scene said Iwaniuk had been dead for more than a day and had suffered several blunt force injuries to the back of his head.

Detectives said that, as far as they knew, the only items taken were the victim’s car and TV.

Informants told police they saw Faunda in Iwaniuk’s car, which was found in Calvary Cemetery two hours after Iwaniuk was found dead.

The prosecution and defense had agreed to a sentence of 25 years to life in prison for Faunda.