Ohio Couple Plead Guilty In Ypsilanti Man's Death
TOLEDO, Ohio (WWJ/AP) - A husband and wife in Ohio have pleaded guilty in the death of a Michigan man whose body was found in an empty grain storage barn in early December.
Robert Strauss pleaded guilty to murder on Monday and was sentenced to life in prison. Desirae Strauss pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was given 15 years.
Both were charged in July with killing 52-year-old Brian Martin, of Ypsilanti.
Martin was reported missing in June and his remains were found in December in northwestern Ohio's Putnam County.
The last time Martin was seen, he was coaching a softball game near Toledo on June 22. Martin was expected to be in Louisville, Kentucky that same night, but he never showed.
One of Martin's daughters told police he had been romantically involved with Desirae Strauss for several years. According to a police report, Desirae Strauss' mother told officers that she saw Martin at the Strauss' home on June 22.
According to reports, Martin apparently believed he was the father of Desirae Strauss' recently born twins. Martin was allegedly pressing Desirae Strauss to take a paternity test — which she refused. Reports say Robert Strauss found out about his wife's relationship with Martin shortly before his disappearance.
The couple was taken into custody in July after police found evidence at their home indicating Martin was attacked there. Incidentally, the couple was located in Indiana after police received a complaint they were dealing drugs out of a vehicle that turned out to be Martin's.
According to reports, Desirae Strauss was given a plea deal because she led investigators to the location of Martin's body, which was found in an empty granary under a large pile of debris.
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