NEWS

$5M bond for Galion murder suspect

Todd Hill
Reporter
Frederick Saunders Jr.

BUCYRUS — Bond was set at $5 million Monday for Frederick Saunders Jr., who has been accused of aggravated murder in the death of his 68-year-old father last week in Galion.

"This was not a fair fight," Crawford County Municipal Court Judge Shane Leuthold said as he justified the high bond. "The victim would have been defenseless against a younger, stronger man. If he did this, it's at minimum a despicable crime."

The judge, noting that the evidence in the case is strong and that the younger Saunders had moved to the community just seven months ago from Missouri, concluded that the suspect, who is a veteran and has served several tours of duty overseas, would be a flight risk.

Saunders' attorney, Adam Stone, who was appointed to the case Sunday night, countered that his client's wife lives in the area. "The victim was the client's father, so he's also suffering to some degree, as well," he said.

Crawford County prosecutor Matthew Crall said no weapon was used to commit the alleged crime, which authorities say occurred on Wednesday. The cause of death has been determined as strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head, although the prosecutor said the victim had marks all over his body.

An autopsy was conducted on Friday. The judge, Crall and Stone viewed several photos of the victim's injuries during the younger Saunders' initial court appearance on Monday.

The victim was initially taken last week to Galion Community Hospital, where he died.

"The family attempted to have the body incinerated rather quickly. There are many other things that may result in additional charges," Crall said.

"That could be interpreted as trying to destroy evidence," Leuthold said.

If convicted, Saunders could face 10 to 25 years in prison.

Also Monday, the judge set bond at $100,000 each for two men facing charges of heroin possession, both fifth-degree felonies.

David Dean was, according to assistant prosecutor Robert Kidd, found unresponsive from an overdose in a van on Friday, and was revived by Crawford County Sheriff's Office deputies with Naloxone.

"You should thank the sheriff's office for saving your life. You basically killed yourself, and I think you will again if I let you out," Leuthold told Dean via a video hookup with the Crawford County Jail.

Kimmel, the assistant prosecutor said, was arrested following a traffic stop on Friday. Kidd said the defendant later admitted to using one to two grams of heroin a day, although Kimmel disputed that in court on Monday.

"It's enough that I doubt you have the discretionary income to buy that," Leuthold said. "We're going to protect you from yourself."

Also, Timmy Cooley made an initial court appearance on a fourth-felony charge of OVI. Cooley has six OVIs and 47 driving suspensions on his record. Bond was set at $25,000.

thill3@nncogannett.com

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