OTTAWA COUNTY

Coroner says single shot killed Ottawa County woman

Husband has to be discharged from the hospital before being charged with his wife’s slaying

Amy Ross, 43, of Fremont, Ohio, was shot to death by her husband Randy Ross, in the home of her sister in Carroll Township, Ohio. Her husband shot himself twice in the head, failing to kill himself. The child is unidentified, but is not Amy Ross'.

OAK HARBOR, Ohio — The Ottawa County Coroner’s Office said Thursday that Amy Ross, a 43-year-old slain inside her sister’s Carroll Township home, died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.

The autopsy, performed by the Lucas County Coroner’s office, confirmed what authorities at the scene suspected when they found her body in an upstairs bedroom on March 28, Dr. Dan Cadigan, Ottawa County coroner, said.

Police said Ms. Ross had tried to flee from her husband, Randall Ross, 47, who was found standing on the driveway of his sister-in-law’s house on Leutz Road, with two bullet wounds in his head.

Witnesses told investigators that Mr. Ross shot his wife, then turned the 40-caliber handgun he had been carrying on himself.

Stephen Levorchick, Ottawa County sheriff, said Mr. Ross remained alive and under treatment Thursday at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo.

The hospital has declined to release information about his condition.

Mr. Ross was flown there by helicopter shortly after he was found outside the house and was ordered to the ground by Carroll Township Police Chief Jody Hatfield, the first responder to arrive.

Authorities must wait for Mr. Ross to be discharged from the hospital before they can charge him with his wife’s slaying, Sheriff Levorchick said.

The couple lived for years in rural Ottawa County before relocating to the Fremont area in neighboring Sandusky County.

Authorities said there was a history of domestic violence. Ms. Ross moved in with her sister about a month before she was shot to death.