Murder-suicide suspected in West Twp. deaths by shooting | News, sports, jobs

LISBON — Columbiana County Sheriff Brian McLaughlin said Tuesday that the investigation into a man and woman found shot to death in their West Township home appears to be a suspected murder-suicide.

The deaths at 24235 Ridge Road, East Rochester remain under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and the Columbiana County Coroner’s Office, with McLaughlin noting that a final ruling is still pending.

However, he admitted that the scenario appears to be that the man shot himself after shooting the woman multiple times.

The dead were identified as Vanessa Chester, 37, and Jason Hilaire, 50, both of the home on Ridge Road.

According to a press release from McLaughlin, the sheriff’s office received a call for a welfare check at the home Monday at 4:32 p.m., followed by another call reporting that a son had found his mother and stepfather deceased inside the home.

The sheriff’s office responded, along with the Minerva Police Department and the Sandy Creek Joint Fire District. Two people were found inside the home with gunshot wounds and the county coroner’s office was called to the scene, along with Child Protective Services.

According to the sheriff’s investigation report, a man called requesting a benefits check for Hilaire, claiming he was going through a divorce. A mutual friend told him he had left a house behind. “ominous sounding voicemail” and no one had been able to contact him. A minute later, another call came in from someone claiming that his son’s friend had found his mother and stepfather dead in the basement. Another caller reported that their child’s friend called, a female youth, and said she found the two shot inside the home.

In addition to child protective services being called to the scene, the county dog ​​warden was also called to a dog at the home.

McLaughlin said a 10-millimeter handgun was found near the bodies. The evidence list in the sheriff’s investigation report included multiple spent shell casings and live pistol bullets, two different handguns, divorce papers and telephones.

A call was placed to the county coroner’s office, but had not been returned as of Tuesday afternoon.

A check of Columbiana County Common Pleas court records showed no charges had been filed for Hilaire or Chester.

The case is still under investigation. Anyone with any information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 330-424-7255.

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