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The remains were sent to the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s for autopsy to determine cause of death and identity
YOUNGSTOWN
A man and a woman, both of Youngstown, are scheduled to appear in Municipal Court today facing abuse-of-a-corpse charges in connection with the discovery of human remains that had been in a basement freezer in a Campbell home for a week.
Arrested by Youngstown Police on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, and incarcerated in Mahoning County jail were Arturo Novoa, 31, and Katrina Layton, 34, both of 1625 Mahoning Ave.
Novoa was arrested at his job in the kitchen of a Boardman restaurant and Layton at her residence, both without incident. Layton may also be charged with obstructing justice, said Youngstown Police Lt. Doug Bobovnyik.
The detective said the cause of death and identity of what is believed to be a female found in the freezer will be determined by an autopsy performed by the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s office.
Bobovnyik said he expects the results of the autopsy to be known more quickly than usual because of the high-profile nature of this case.
Youngstown police believe the death occurred in Youngstown, after which the body was moved to a home in the 300 block of Devitt Avenue in Campbell.
Bobovnyik said the people who found and reported the freezer’s contents “have cooperated fully” and are not suspects in connection the body.
The remains of what appears to be a female was discovered at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday when the home owner became suspicious because the freezer, which had been there about a week, was locked.
The homeowner was keeping the freezer for an acquaintance, Novoa, who said his electricity was off and he needed to keep it plugged in so the contents would not spoil, Bobovnyik said.
When the homeowner discovered the remains, it was reported to the Campbell Police Department, which in turn contacted the YPD, thinking it might be connected to a missing-person case there.
“Our investigation led us to Novoa and Layton, and after speaking with witnesses, to their arrest,” the detective said.
Bobovnyik said police are working with the city prosecutor to determine charges to file against Novoa and Layton, and that further charges may be pending the results of the autopsy, the cause of death and positive identification.
Novoa has had several brushes with the law.
In July 2006, he was charged with aggravated arson and obstructing official business after throwing a flaming object onto the porch of a home on Cooper Street, where Novoa lived. In 2010, 24 at the time, Novoa was indicted by a Mahoning County grand jury on charges of illegal gun possession, and in 2015 was issued a summons for drug abuse of marijuana, according to records.
According to 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, one female missing was known as Novoa’s girlfriend, Shannon Elizabeth Graves.
Graves’ sister, Debbie DePaul, said Shannon would never leave without her dog and kept in touch with her dad and friends. DePaul believes her sister, who was listed as a missing person on the Ohio Attorney General’s website, is the victim found over the weekend, reported 21 WFMJ-TV.
Graves was reported missing June 22, and family members then said she had not been seen since last Christmas.