Trial moved in 1983 slaying of Whitehouse 19-year-old

7/15/2014
BLADE STAFF
Gustafson
Gustafson

The trial of a former Swanton Township man charged in the 1983 slaying of a Whitehouse woman has been pushed back to Oct. 6.

Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Gary Cook set the new trial date for Andrew Gustafson, 57, of Birch Run, Mich. during a hearing Monday. While his trial had been set for Aug. 18, the judge said the court would hold a hearing that day on Mr. Gustafson’s motions to suppress DNA evidence and statements he made to investigators between 1983 when the crime occurred and 2013 when he was indicted on two counts of aggravated murder and one count of murder for the death of Janean Brown, 19.

Ms. Brown’s body was found buried in a ditch along Archbold-Whitehouse Road. Her throat had been cut.

Defense attorneys claim a DNA sample was taken from Mr. Gustafson in a “warrantless search.” They also allege he made statements to law enforcement in 1983, 1986, and 2013 but “the circumstances surrounding these statements are not apparent.” It is unclear, they said in their motion, whether Mr. Gustafson was advised of his Miranda rights before he was questioned.