Kin appeal for leads in 2 Toledo slayings

3/30/2001

Relatives of two women slain this month are urging citizens with information on the killings to contact authorities, who are offering a $3,000 reward in each case.

“She never deserved anything like this. She was a good lady and we want to bring the [killer] to justice. I lost my mother. I lost a big part of my heart,” said Daniel Jagodzinski, whose 76-year-old mother, Betty, was attacked March 6 in her home and pushed down the basement steps.

The mother of five died about four hours after being found by two friends.

The family of Tina Rochelle Stallworth, who was shot March 22 while she was on a couch in a friend's first-floor apartment at a house at 2367 Warren St., had similar sentiments.

“A man or woman was bold enough to take her life. That man or woman should be bold enough to step up to the line. They might have won the battle, but they haven't won the war,” said Kevia Johnson, the cousin of the 33-year-old mother of nine and grandmother of one.

Mayor Carty Finkbeiner announced the rewards yesterday in front of Mrs. Jagodzinski's house at 332 Bronson Ave.

Police said they have few leads in the cases. Evidence left at the scenes doesn't point to particular suspects. There apparently were no witnesses and both women were alone when the crimes occurred.

Investigators have not found Mrs. Jagodzinski's missing black purse and wallet.

In the Stallworth case, police are not sure if she was the intended victim of the shooting, which occurred when someone fired five shots at the front of the house. One bullet went through a living room window. Another went through the couch and hit Stallworth.

“We're at the point that we need the citizens to help us out,” Capt. Wes Bombrys said. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 245-3142 or the Crime Stopper program at 255-1111.