ASHLAND — Ashland County Prosecutor Chris Tunnell apologized at the start of the annual Victims of Crime Service Awards Banquet on Thursday evening.
Tunnell said the banquet, a tradition that began in 1997, normally takes place in April during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
“We were a little busy,” Tunnell said, referencing the capital murder trial of Shawn Grate, a trial that began in April and resulted in two death penalty verdicts in June.
Fittingly, several of the people honored on Thursday at the 90-minute event at the Elks Lodge had key roles in the arrest and conviction of Grate, including:
— Jane Doe, who on Sept. 13, 2016, called 911 and reported she had been abducted. She was able to free herself from being tied up to a bed while Grate was asleep in a Covert Court home. It was the same house where Grate allegedly raped and killed two other women. Jane Doe likely would have been his next victim. Tunnell, who successfully fought to keep Jane Doe’s identity from becoming public, praised the private woman who found the courage to free herself, call police and then later testify against Grate in court.
“It’s important for victims of crime to know that if they commit to the criminal justice system, that the criminal justice system will commit to them,” Tunnell said.
Jane Doe, who did not attend the banquet, was one of the Special Courage Award Winners on Thursday.
— Ashland police Capt. Dave Lay, Lt. Tim Shreffler, Sgt. Jim Cox, Det. Curt Dorsey and Det. Kim Mager received Distinguished Service Awards for their efforts in rescuing Jane Doe, arresting Grate, securing the crime scene and assisting in the successful prosecution of the defendant.
The officers were nominated for the award by Ashland police Chief David Marcelli, who spoke about the roles each played in the case. Shreffler, Cox and Dorsey responded to the 911 call and rescued Jane Doe before taking Grate into custody. Lay headed the detective bureau at the time and led the investigation, including the initial interview of Grate. Magers elicited the confessions of Grate and also interviewed and worked with Jane Doe.
“This case has forever left an impact on this community and the members of the Ashland Police Division,” Marcelli said. “This case is about the entire department.”
Shreffler and Mager were present to receive their awards.
— Special assistant prosecutors Michael McNamara from Medina County and Mark Weaver from Columbus received Distinguished Service Awards for their assistance during the trial preparation and trial of Grate. Both attorneys volunteered their time and talents, Tunnell said, crediting them with skilled court presentations that helped ensure the convictions and death penalty recommendations.
— Medina County Prosecutor S. Forrest Thompson received a Community Service Award, whose own office handled multiple homicides while he agreed to loan McNamara to assist with the Grate prosecution.
Other award winners honored Thursday were:
— Logan Buzzard and Joseph Phinney, who saw suspicious behavior at Brookside Park one evening and followed the suspect to obtain vehicle and trailer license plates. When a theft was discovered the next morning, their information led to the successful arrest and prosecution of the defendant. They received Special Courage Awards.
— Leanne Stadler, an Ashland County foster parent whose dedication and expertise led to increased medical examination of an infant in her car. The baby was determined to have suffered Shaken Baby Syndrome and the child’s birth father subsequently confessed and was convicted in the case. She received a Special Courage Award.
— Garry Burgett, Jr., who stopped an Ashland bank robbery by confronting and physically detaining the suspect outside the bank until law enforcement officers arrived. He received a Special Courage Award.
— Malena Puster, who recently retired from the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office. Tunnell praised her ability to keep all needed information, documents and other evidentiary items flowing from the ACSO to his office and also the Ashland Law Director’s office. She received a Community Service Award.
In his closing remarks, Tunnell thanked the Elks Lodge for again hosting the banquet and members of his own office for their work, including Ruth Rafeld, his Victims Assistance Coordinator.
