Trumbull man offered plea deal in death of his great-uncle

WARREN — Prosecutors have DNA evidence linking Marcus Honsaker to last November’s murder of his great-uncle, Donald Giovannone, but “in speaking with the family” they decided to offer Honsaker a plea agreement allowing him to escape the death penalty.

Honsaker, 27, of Reo Court, accepted the agreement and pleaded guilty today in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to aggravated murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and tampering with evidence and received a sentence of life in prison with no chance at parole.

“I’d like to apologize to my family for everything I put them through,” Honsaker said.

A family member, Bobbi Marsh, spoke next, saying Giovannone, 71, of Atlantic Street Northwest, “was a very kind person who would do anything for anyone. He was always thinking of others before himself.”

She listed a long line people who lost their father, son, brother, hunting buddy and hunting instructor, and motorcycle and race car friend.

“Today is his only daughter’s birthday,” she said. “Her name is Mavis. She won’t be getting a phone call or be able to Skype with her dad today or ever again. In fact the conversations between her and ‘Gio’ that have been going on every other day for decades have been silenced for 10 months.”