Grand jury declines to indict Liberty man for murder of step-grandfather

LIBERTY

A Trumbull County grand jury has declined to indict Branden Cagley, 30. of Liberty on a felony murder charge in connection with the death of his step-grandfather James W. Phillips, 81, of the same township address.

Liberty Fire officials arrived to a Lucretia Drive home May 1 to find Phillips dead, a police report states. Cagley had called Trumbull County 911 shortly before 4 p.m., saying he had shot Phillips to protect his grandmother.

Police seized a revolver in connection with the incident.

A Trumbull County coroner ruled Phillips’ death a homicide.

“There’s no question it was the right decision,” Attn. Robert Shaker, who is representing Cagley, said of the grand jury’s decision. “[Cagley] was protecting his own life and the life of his grandmother.”

Shaker said his client is autistic.