Ohio Couple Reach Plea Deal In Ypsilanti Man's Death As Remains Found In Granary
TOLEDO (WWJ/AP) - As authorities await to confirm whether skeletal remains found in an empty granary in northwest Ohio belong to a missing Ypsilanti man, the couple accused in his death appear to have reached a deal with prosecutors.
Investigators believe they've found 52-year-old Brian Martin of Ypsilanti, who was reported missing in late June. The remains were discovered Tuesday near Leipsic, in a rural area about 40 miles southwest of Toledo.
Autopsy and DNA test results are pending, although investigators believe the remains belong to Martin.
Investigators believe Martin was bludgeoned to death by Robert Strauss and his wife Desirae, both of Toledo. The couple was charged 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.
As the couple sat in jail, investigators began searching for Martin's body along a crime scene that stretched from Toledo to Anderson, Indiana. Investigators located the remains after "new and recent information" was provided to the prosecutor's office.
"We had been in talks with defense counsel in regards to resolving this matter, and as a result of those talks and further investigation by Toledo Police, we were able to locate human remains," Jeff Lingo, with the Lucas County Prosecutor's Office, told the Toledo Blade.
An attorney for Robert Strauss said his client did not provide the information, while an attorney for Desirae Strauss declined to answer the question.
Attorneys for the Strausses say they've reached tentative plea agreements with prosecutors in the pending cases. Both declined to discuss details of the deals.
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 Strausses remain jailed on charges of aggravated murder, murder, tampering with evidence and grand theft of a motor vehicle.
Martin's daughters have told reporters they are hopeful a positive identification will be made in order to give their father a proper burial.
"It's one of those things where you obviously don't want to find out that your loved one's body is found and stuff like that but we'd rather it be found so we can go through the process of grieving," daughter Andrea Martin said.
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