BUCYRUS—Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold has issued an impactful decision in the Robert Pinyerd murder trial.
Pinyerd, 41, of Crestline, stands accused of the February 2022 murder of Cynthia Jo Heath.
Officers responded to calls from Heath’s family, concerned about her well-being. Upon entry to her home, Police discovered Cynthia was deceased. They determined that Cynthia’s death was from” unnatural causes.”
The witness, Jane Beck, of Crestline, reported what she had seen immediately following the discovery of Heath’s body.
However, the Police never got back to her for a statement.
According to the Police Department, Beck was “overlooked” because of their concentrated efforts to capture Pinyerd, who fled the scene. Pinyerd was taken into custody after being spotted at a Mansfield laundromat.
Monday morning Judge Leuthold heard testimony from Crestline Police Chief Kitzmiller (a detective at the time of the murder) and watched the recorded interview of Beck made at the Crestline Police Department a little more than a week ago.
Defense Attorney Tom Nicholson objected to the late admission of Beck’s testimony.
Nicholson told the court: “There were no other witnesses to identify Robert Pinyerd or place him anywhere near a gunshot. No one. No one until now.”
Nicholson told the court this was “perfectly timed,” so he would not have time to investigate the factual background of the situation.
After listening to Beck’s Police interview in chambers, Judge Leuthold ruled Beck would be allowed to testify.
Jury selection is set for today. Opening arguments will begin Tuesday morning in the Crawford County Common Pleas Court.
Crawford County Now will provide complete courtroom coverage.