North Canton: Mother finds her son decapitated

[Kellapple]

Woman finds her son decapitated

Mother breaks into residence in North Canton, finds body in bathroom. Traces of fire in kitchen

By Bill Lilley
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Tuesday, Oct 07, 2008

NORTH CANTON: The mother of a North Canton man whose body was found in his mobile home Saturday night said she had hoped that her son was just sleeping soundly when he failed to answer his phone or respond to knocks on his door.

But Judy Smith's worst fears — and then some — were realized when the increasingly desperate mother and a neighbor from Hartville broke into her son's residence and found his body in the bathroom.

Judy Smith said Monday that she could not be positive it was her son, 34-year-old Brett W. Smith, because he had been decapitated.

She said she called 9-1-1 on her cell phone shortly after 7 p.m.

On the tape of the call, Judy Smith told Stark County dispatchers:

''I think my son has been killed. . . . We just broke in and it looks like he's in the bathroom but his head is missing . . . It looks like his legs.''

Stark County coroner's spokesman Rick Walters said the body was identified as Brett Smith — a 1993 Lake High School graduate — through tattoos.

But citing the ongoing homicide investigation, neither Walters nor North Canton Police Chief Michael A. Grimes would confirm that Smith had been decapitated.

''I don't know what happened,'' Judy Smith said Monday. ''I had been concerned because he was supposed to have a play day with my granddaughter at noon Saturday and he didn't answer the door when we got there.

''I went back at 2:30 and 5 and he still didn't answer. He's been on a lot of medication and
I was hoping that he was just sleeping through everything.''

Smith said she called the North Canton police asking for help, but was told they couldn't do anything unless there was ''good reason to break in.''

''I went back home and got a neighbor who had done some work with Brett and he's pretty handy,'' Smith said. ''I still was hopeful that we would get there and Brett would say: 'Why did you break the window to check on me?'

''But we got in and when we went to the bathroom I found him. It's like a terrible dream for a mother.''

The autopsy was postponed until today, Walters said.

A kitchen fire that had burned out also is being investigated, Walters said.

North Canton police, the coroner's office and Canton Stark County Crime Lab are investigating.


http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/30553959.html

[Kellapple]

Hear the 9-1-1 Call

http://www.cantonrep.com/audioClip.p...e2=October2008

[Kellapple]

North Canton murder victim was beheaded

UPDATE: 4:24 PM, Monday, October 6, 2008

NORTH CANTON Grisly details are coming out today about the murder of a city man whose headless body was found Saturday evening by his mother in the man's trailer.

The mother told Stark County coroner's investigator Rick Walters that the dead man is Brett Smith, 34, who lived in the Evergreen Mobile Home Court at 81 Balsam St. NW. The coroner's office was able to identify the victim by his tattoos.

North Canton police have said little about the case so far. Chief Mike Grimes said today he doesn't want to release any details that might interfere with the investigation.

"We're actively working on it," he said.

Investigators said the head was recovered from the residence but declined to elaborate on its location or any other injuries.

Police responded to the Balsam Street address after receiving an emergency call. A woman who identified herself as Judy Smith, the victim's mother, can be heard on the 911 call to police describing the scene.

"He's in the bathroom, but his head's missing," she tells a North Canton dispatcher.

"But what?" the dispatcher reacts with surprise.

Smith explained that she was at her son's trailer where "we just broke in" and she could see her son in the bathroom. His head was not attached to his body.

"I know it sounds really weird," she struggles to explain to the dispatcher. "I don't know. Could you just dispatch an officer?"

"Yeah, we'll send an officer," the dispatcher tells her, and asks her to explain further.

" .... it looks like him.

"... there's a body or there's something there, I mean, it looks like his legs," she says.

An autopsy scheduled for today was canceled because the county coroner was tied up in court on an unrelated case.

Investigators also have declined to explain the significance of a kitchen fire, which was out when they arrived Saturday.

Smith lived alone, according to neighbors.

Judy Smith said she drove from her Lake Township home to North Canton when her son failed to show up Saturday for a regular visit with his 4-year-old niece.

She said the highlight of her son's week was spending time with his niece, whose nickname for him was Bubba. The pair would hang out in the play area at McDonalds, visit the North Canton Public Library, or Price Park.

Smith said the death of her son in such a gruesome way left her feeling "numb."

"He was kind and caring. He liked to help everyone out," Smith said from the porch of her home this afternoon, where she was making plans for her son's funeral.

She said he loved animals and had a kitten that was given its name, Tigger, by the niece.

The cat was hiding in the trailer, but was recovered by Judy Smith.

Brett Smith graduated in 1993 from Lake High School, said his mother.

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?C...ubCategoryID=0

[One2Snoop]

OMG!

[SaraSidle]

Originally Posted by One2Snoop

OMG!

okay who and where is the head? there has to be a reason.........IMO

[susie31023]

Originally Posted by Kellapple

North Canton murder victim was beheaded

UPDATE: 4:24 PM, Monday, October 6, 2008

NORTH CANTON Grisly details are coming out today about the murder of a city man whose headless body was found Saturday evening by his mother in the man's trailer.

The mother told Stark County coroner's investigator Rick Walters that the dead man is Brett Smith, 34, who lived in the Evergreen Mobile Home Court at 81 Balsam St. NW. The coroner's office was able to identify the victim by his tattoos.

North Canton police have said little about the case so far. Chief Mike Grimes said today he doesn't want to release any details that might interfere with the investigation.

"We're actively working on it," he said.

Investigators said the head was recovered from the residence but declined to elaborate on its location or any other injuries.

Police responded to the Balsam Street address after receiving an emergency call. A woman who identified herself as Judy Smith, the victim's mother, can be heard on the 911 call to police describing the scene.

"He's in the bathroom, but his head's missing," she tells a North Canton dispatcher.

"But what?" the dispatcher reacts with surprise.

Smith explained that she was at her son's trailer where "we just broke in" and she could see her son in the bathroom. His head was not attached to his body.

"I know it sounds really weird," she struggles to explain to the dispatcher.

This poor lady. How absolutely devastating it must be for her. So very, very sad. What the heck is happening in this world where so many of these crazy people are doing such heinous things to others?..~Suz

[Notknowingall]

Originally Posted by susie31023

This poor lady. How absolutely devastating it must be for her. So very, very sad. What the heck is happening in this world where so many of these crazy people are doing such heinous things to others?..~Suz

ITA Susie ITA.

[Kellapple]

I can't even imagine this. I think I would of had a heart attack.

[Kellapple]

Brett Smith Photo Gallery:

http://cantonrep.mycapture.com/mycap...6&CategoryID=0

[Kellapple]

Prosecutor: North Canton man is suspect in neighbor's beheading

Wednesday, October 8, 2008
REPOSITORY STAFF REPORT

CANTON A North Canton man arrested for vandalism is a suspect in the beheading death of his neighbor, the city prosecutor said this morning.

William D. Perry, 41, appeared in Municipal Court and was advised of the vandalism charge against him. No plea was entered, and the defense did not challenge the $150,000 bond.

After the hearing, City Prosecutor Frank Forchione explained why the bond was so high for a low-level felony.

"He's the suspect in the murder, and we need to take whatever action is necessary to protect the community," Forchione said.

The prosecutor wouldn't say if police are looking at other suspects. He did say that investigators were reviewing the phone records of the victim.

Perry, of 94 Cedar St. NW, is accused of smashing an electrical meter outside of neighbor Brett W. Smith's home days before Smith was found dead inside his trailer in the Evergreen Mobile Home Court.

No charges have been filed in what is being described as a grisly murder. Smith was decapitated, and investigators say paint was thrown about the trailer in an attempt to cover up the crime. His body was found Saturday by his mother, who was worried about his safety and broke in with another of Smith's neighbors.

Judge Mary Falvey granted a defense request restricting authorities from discussing the case with Perry and set another court date for later this month.

Defense attorneys Rick Pitinii and Anthony Koukoutas made the request because the high bond indicates that Perry is a suspect.

"As far as we know, he's made no statements," Koukoutas said, adding later that "police and prosecutors do not make us party to their investigation while it's ongoing."

Forchione wouldn't comment on whether Perry has made statements or other specifics of the investigation. Nor would the prosecutor say if police are considering other suspects.

"The case is still being investigated, and we are working hard to follow all the leads," Forchione said.

North Canton Police Chief Michael Grimes said there was nothing new to release this morning.

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?I...ryID=435045&r=

[Kellapple]

William D. Perry (right) of North Canton appears in Canton Municipal Court with attorney Tony Koukoutas for his arraignment on a felony vandalism charge. Perry is accused of vandalizing the electric meter of a neighbor who was found beheaded days later. REPOSITORY MICHAEL S. BALASH

[Kellapple]

Video
Neighbor finds beheaded man

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?e...multimedia.php

[SaraSidle]

Originally Posted by Kellapple

Video
Neighbor finds beheaded man

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?e...multimedia.php

Sounds like a psychotic episode Kelly but time will tell. IMO sara

[Kellapple]

Run-in with a murder suspect

Man says Perry threatened his life week before N. Canton killing

Saturday, October 11, 2008
By LORI MONSEWICZ

NORTH CANTON One week before his arrest, the man named as a suspect in a beheading murder was accused of making threats at a city business, an incident that prompted a call to police.

Susan Caley, vice president of LA Office Solutions at 1687 N. Main St., said William D. Perry is the same man who chased and threatened — unprovoked — to kill her service manager Sept. 26.

Perry has been named a suspect but is not charged in the death of his neighbor, Brett Smith.

Smith, a 34-year-old Lake High School graduate, was found dead Saturday night in the Evergreen Mobile Home Park. Perry, 41, remains jailed on a vandalism charge related to an electric meter at Smith's trailer.

Caley's employees said they did not realize Perry was the same man who threatened one of their own until they saw his picture on the front page of The Repository.

A CONFRONTATION

Dan McFarland, who works for Caley as a service manager, said he was taking empty boxes outside the back door to a trash bin between their business and European Tan & Spa next door, where Perry was using a sander to repair the spa's back door.

"I said, 'Hi, how're you doing?' and he just stared at me," McFarland said.

Each time McFarland returned from the building to unload boxes, he said, Perry threw tools to the ground, stood and stared silently at him.

"He was really creeping me out," McFarland said.

McFarland told co-worker Bryan Fadorsen about the encounter, and Fadorsen took out the next load of boxes. Fadorsen said Perry didn't say anything to him.

"He looked disturbed, and he didn't look like he was in the right state of mind," Fadorsen said.

Fadorsen went back inside, looked out a window and saw Perry kicking the boxes around the parking lot.

McFarland returned outside and asked Perry if the boxes were in his way. McFarland offered to move them.

"He came at me .... saying 'I'm going to kill you ... and I made a run for the door," McFarland said. "When I got to the door, he was pulling on the outside of the door when I was trying to close it."

McFarland successfully closed the door.

He and Fadorsen could see Perry through the garage window. Perry was pacing, yelling and cursing. That's when they called police.

REPORT FILED

North Canton Police Chief Michael Grimes said the menacing allegation remains under investigation. No charges have been filed.

"Apparently the officers there that day did not think there was enough evidence to arrest anybody at the scene," Grimes said.

A police dispatcher called McFarland and told him the officers had told Perry to leave them alone, and that if McFarland had any more problems with Perry, to call them back. Spa employees distracted Perry so McFarland could leave the building, McFarland said.

Spa owner Lisa Powell declined to comment. She wouldn't say whether Perry worked there.

Caley wonders if things might be different had an arrest been made.

"The reality is it would've been a misdemeanor anyhow, and the suspect would've been back out of the jail fairly quick even if he was arrested," Grimes said.

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?I...15&Category=11

[Kellapple]

RECALLING A CONFRONTATION Dan McFarland (right) talks about his confrontation with a man who, a week later, became a suspect in a homicide in which a man was decapitated. McFarland is the service manager for LA Office Solutions on N. Main Street in North Canton. At left is his employer, Susan Caley, vice president of LA Office Solutions.
REPOSITORY MICHAEL S. BALASH

[Kellapple]

Video:
A close encounter with beheading suspect


http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?e...multimedia.php

[Kellapple]

Just who are the victim and suspect in last week's trailer park beheading?

Sunday, October 12, 2008
BY TIM BOTOS and SHANE HOOVER

THEIR BACKGROUNDS

William Douglas Perry was born in Warren on July 14, 1967, to Clayton and Julie Perry. Already sporting a mustache by his sophomore year in high school, Perry played football at Canton McKinley. He did not, however, appear with the rest of the Class of 1986 in his yearbook.

Less than a year later, on Feb. 13, 1987, he married a Timken High girl, Laura Seccombe, in Niagara Falls. The couple had no children and few possessions when they divorced in 1989. His take from the marriage: a 1984 Chevrolet Chevette and two Rottweiler dogs, divorce records show.

Around that time, Perry was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon. It was the first in an ongoing pattern of run-ins with the law, court records show. He forfeited his gun and agreed to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to avoid a jail sentence.

His girlfriend, Susan Lockard of Canton, has said Perry was in the Marines Military Police and served in Operation Desert Storm, which started in 1991.

By December 1992, Perry lived in Green when Akron police arrested him on drug abuse and attempted aggravated burglary charges. He avoided prison and was placed on probation, records show.

Brett W. Smith was born June 10, 1974, in Akron.

His mother, Judy, taught for Stark County's mental retardation board. His father, Ronald, worked for an aerospace company. He had a brother and a sister.

Judy Smith has declined most interview requests. In limited public statements, Smith's family has described him as man who enjoyed music, fishing and working on his computer. His weekly highlight was taking his 4-year-old niece to the park or McDonald's.

Full Story Report:

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