Man arrested in connection to death of woman found dead behind Starbucks

Staff report

BOARDMAN

A township man is charged in connection with the death of Billie Beshara, 48, who was found dead of an overdose behind a U.S. Route 224 plaza March 7.

Steven Schaefer, 31, of Indianola Road, was arrested Thursday on warrants of abuse of a corpse and failure to report a crime/death, both misdemeanors. He appeared in Mahoning County Area Court on Thursday where he pleaded not guilty.

Police said Schaefer likely was with Beshara when she fatally overdosed, then transported and left her in the parking lot where police found her in an SUV a day and a half later. Schaefer reportedly admitted he tried to perform CPR on Beshara, but did not call 911.

An autopsy conducted by the Mahoning County Coroner’s office found that Beshara had heroin, cocaine, alcohol and fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, in her system at the time of her death.

Police said surveillance video showed Schaefer near Beshara’s body after she had been reported missing. He is scheduled to appear in court again June 13.