Crime & Safety
4 Charged Following Slaying of Former North Canton Man
John Yanik, 52, of Barberton, and three accomplices face felony charges in connection with the death of John P. Smith, formerly of North Canton.
Four suspects have been charged in connection with the death of a former North Canton resident who was discovered in a Mineral City creek on Feb. 8, the Canton Repository reports.
John Yanik, 52, of Barberton, was arrested on murder charges and Stephen Batdorf, 46, of Akron; Paul Wright, 46, of Akron; and Trisha Copley, 22, of Barberton, were all charged with felony evidence tampering.
The suspects are being held in Summit County Jail on a $250,000 bond.
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WKYC reported that Barberton police, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation agents and the officials from the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office removed the body of John P. Smith, 36, of Akron, from Conotton Creek -- located off Somerdale Road – on Jan. 28.
According to a Barberton police, Smith was reportedly shot in the head at 1800 W. Turkeyfoot Lake Rd. before being dumped in the creek.
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Smith had resided in North Canton in 2002.
For more to the story, visit www.cantonrep.com.
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