CRESTLINE — A man arrested and charged in the deaths of his parents pleaded not guilty to all counts Wednesday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.
Maxwell Anatra, 24, is charged with two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of murder, three counts of aggravated burglary, one count of aggravated robbery, two counts of theft and one count of tampering with evidence.
Anatra appeared Wednesday before Judge Daniel Hogan, a retired jurist from Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
The Ohio Supreme Court appointed Hogan after Crawford County Judge Sean Leuthold voluntarily recused himself due to his connection with Lisa Anatra, one of the victims in the case.
In a court filling, Leuthold said Anatra was employed by the court and was a longtime friend.
Hogan set Anatra’s bond at $1 million — half of what was recommended by Crawford County Prosecutor Matthew Crall.
Crall argued Anatra’s actions after the deaths of his parents indicate he’s a flight risk.
According to Crall, Anatra purchased a plane ticket from Detroit to Ethiopia, but did not end up boarding the plane. He was later arrested by Canadian officials after crossing the border near St. Clair, Mich.
Crall denied to specify when the plane ticket was purchased.
Anatra was represented in court by defense attorney James Mayer III, appointed by the court. Mayer declined to comment on the case.
A trial date has not been set.
Lindsey and Lisa Anatra died from stab wounds, prosecutor says
The defendant was arrested on Nov. 19, the same day his parents were found dead in their Crestline home.
The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office said it received a 9-1-1 call requesting a welfare check at 722 N. Henry St. in Crestline.
The caller said a co-worker had not shown up for work and the caller believed blood had been seen at her residence. The CCSO transferred the call to Crestline police.
Crestline officers responded and requested assistance from Crawford County Sheriff’s deputies.
Law enforcement officers forced entry into the house and found a dead woman, Lisa R. Anatra, 61, inside the home. The body of Matthew L. Anatra, 63, was found in the detached garage.
According to the CCSO, family told investigators that Maxwell Anatra, last known to live in Bowling Green, had been at the residence Tuesday night. They had not been able to reach him.
Crall told reporters Wednesday the couple had died from stab wounds and that firearms were stolen from their residence. He declined to share any information about the defendant’s possible motives.
If found guilty of the charges, Crall said Maxwell Anatra could serve back-to-back life sentences.
Crall is currently not pursuing the death penalty.
“We did discuss that issue with the family members, as they are a family with a very strong faith and we wanted to be very sensitive to their views,” Crall said.
“We discussed the various aspects of the death penalty in the state of Ohio and how there has not been any successful completion of the death penalty case, I think, since 2018.”
Crall said Anatra is being held at the Crawford County Jail and said he was unsure if he was on suicide watch.
“I believe he’s being watched closely,” he said.
‘It’s been a tough week in the courthouse’
Lindsey and Lisa Anatra were high school sweethearts, born and raised in Crestline.
The pair were married for 38 years, according to their joint obituary. They served together on the community’s Little League board.
Lindsey was an HVACR technician and former owner of Working Joe’s Coffee. He enjoyed hunting and woodworking projects.
Lisa was a school board member, a runner and a basketball coach. She worked as a domestic relations case manager for the Crawford County Court System.
“There is a great deal of sadness. We want to make sure we pay equal homage to both (Lindsey and Lisa),” Crall said. “It’s been a tough week in the courthouse.”
According to Crall, the community has been supportive of the Anatra family, holding a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the couple.
“There weren’t seats available (at the funeral),” he said. “Everyone in the community turned out.”
Crall asked that the public respect the process as the case unfolds.
“I cannot imagine being in the place of the family members,” he said. “They’re on both sides of this.”
