Law enforcement testifies in Seman murder case

YOUNGSTOWN

A city police detective and two Mahoning County deputy sheriffs testified Thursday during an evidence suppression hearing in the capital murder case of Robert Seman.

City police Detective Sgt. Dave Sweeney testified in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court about search warrants he served at Seman’s home and property on two occasions in April 2015 – one of them just days after the March 30, 2015, fire that Seman is accused of setting at the Powers Way home of William and Judith Schmidt.

The fire killed the Schmidts and their 10-year-old granddaughter, Corinne Gump, on the day Seman, 47, was to go on trial on accusations that he raped Corinne, carrying a potential life sentence, if convicted.

Sweeney is the lead investigator in the case. If convicted on charges of aggravated murder, aggravated arson, aggravated burglary and other charges, Seman could be sentenced to death.

Orientation for jurors in the case begins next Friday in the courtroom of Judge Maureen Sweeney.

Read more about the case in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.