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Niagara Falls murder case will return to Mahoning County
Victim’s body was found in trunk of suspect’s car
By Justin Wier
youngstown
A Mahoning County grand jury will hear the case of a Youngstown man whose girlfriend’s body was found in the trunk of his car in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
On Wednesday, JeShawn Elliott, 37, of Outlook Avenue, told a Youngstown detective interviewing him in New York that he killed his girlfriend in Youngstown, Lt. Doug Bobovnyik said.
That led Niagara County District Attorney Caroline Wojtaszek to announce the case was moving back to Youngstown.
Anvia Mickens, 28, of Bradley Lane, died of multiple stab wounds and strangulation, the Niagara County Coroner’s office determined.
Police found her body Aug. 9.
“This murder involves Youngstown, Ohio, citizens, and the family of the victim expected to see the case back there,” Wojtaszek said in a statement. “They want to follow the prosecution of the defendant and show their love and support for the victim. Once we obtained evidence that the murder took place in Youngstown, Ohio, we were comfortable that jurisdiction would not be an issue in the court.”
Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains said his office has sufficient evidence to prove the crime occurred within the city of Youngstown and the city will issue a warrant for Elliott.
Gains hopes to present the case to a grand jury next week to secure an indictment.
Police took Elliott into custody on a charge of assault on a police officer after he was accused of pulling a knife on police during his apprehension.
The Niagara Falls District Attorney’s office will make a decision on those charges within the next few weeks.
Niagara County will continue to assist with the prosecution of the homicide, Wojtaszek added.
Police discovered the body after what they called a “bizarre” chain of events.
Elliott’s brother called police in both cities and told them he received a phone call in which Elliott said he stabbed Mickens.
Youngstown police went to Elliott’s home, where neighbors saw him about 9 a.m. Aug. 9, and had firefighters break down a door to the house and garage to search for Mickens, but she was not there.
Police notified their counterparts in Niagara Falls to be on the lookout for Elliott and his car.
The car was found by Niagara Falls police in a parking lot with Mickens’ body in the trunk, but Elliott was not there.
He was arrested a short time later on a rented bicycle.