Attorneys seek info on domestic violence in teen's murder case

WARREN — The attorney for Bresha Meadows, 15, and prosecutors met this morning in chambers with Judge Pamela Rintala in the first pretrial hearing today in the girl's aggravated murder case.

She is charged in Trumbull County Juvenile Court with the July 28 shooting desth of her father, Jonathan R. Meadows Sr., 41.

After the hearing, her attorney, Ian Friedman, told news media about the exchange of evidence that is taking place between the prosecutor's office and his office.

Family members are being asked to provide information about the domestic violence that Friedman says has taken place in the home.

At least until the next hearing, at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 6, Bresha will remain in the Trumbull County Juvenile Justice Center, Friedman said.

The Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office could ask for the case to be transferred to the adult court, but a decision has not been made on that, Stanley Elkins, an assistant prosecutor, reiterated today.

About 3 a.m. July 27, Bresha’s mother, Brandi Meadows, called 911 and reported that Bresha had shot her father in the head. He was dead at the scene, Warren police Capt. Robert Massucci said.

Police declined to discuss what led up to the shooting, but a family member said the killing was the result of “20 years of abuse” by Jonathan Meadows against members of his family.

Members of the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative attended Tuesday's hearing and tried to present a petition to Elkins asking for charges to be dropped against her and for her to be released from custody immediately.

Marsha Dinkins, MVOC executive director, said the organization collected more than 7,000 signatures in an online petition drive that lasted 10 days and also collected a couple of hundred petitions in Warren in 24 hours seeking Bresha's release.

That is not a comment on Bresha's guilt or innocence, Dinkins said.

MVOC would like policy changes made at the local, state and national levels to provide more assistance to families dealing with the domestic violence, she explained.

She said domestic violence is "one of those issues that is catapulted for a time, then pushed back under the rug."

She said Elkins refused to accept the petitions. She was advised to give them to Friedman.