Ashtabula County sheriff to reveal identity of bones today

Staff report

JEFFERSON

The Ashtabula County sheriff has called a news conference for 10 a.m. today at his office to release the results of the examination of the bones found at a house on U.S. Route 6 in Roaming Shores Aug. 20.

Sheriff William “Billy” Johnson said the identity of the bones has been determined, but he will not release that information until the conference.

However, Vindicator broadcast partner, 21 WFMJ-TV reported that the mother of a missing Warren teen told the station that police told her the bones are her daughter’s. Alesha Bell, 18, was reported missing by her mother July 23.

Investigators found the bones while executing a search warrant at the home of James E. Brooks, 40, who also has ties to Warren. The search warrant pertained to illegal drugs, but authorities had also been investigating Brooks’ possible ties to Alesha’s disappearance.

Warren police spoke with Brooks about Alesha’s disappearance Aug. 8, police said.

Brooks was placed in the Ashtabula County Jail after police discovered the bones, charged with abuse of a corpse and drug and weapons offenses.

Ashtabula County authorities asked the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office to compare the bones found at Brooks’ home with DNA provided by Alesha’s mother to determine whether the bones are Alesha’s.