Man charged in murder a suspect in 2 break-ins

2/17/2005

A 24-year-old West Toledoan accused of murdering his disabled father-in-law was suspected twice last year of burglarizing the victim's Fulton County home. In one of the break-ins, $250 worth of the narcotic pain reliever OxyContin was taken.

In a burglary report filed with the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in November, James Briscoe said he suspected his son-in-law, Jonathan Ray Haas, stole his OxyContin pills and $300 worth of stereo and television equipment from his home.

Mr. Briscoe was found dead in his home Monday of a gunshot wound to the head.

Tuesday, Mr. Haas was charged with murder.

Mr. Haas also was listed as a suspect in a July burglary of the Briscoe home at 3669 County Road S, south of Metamora.

Mr. Briscoe's wife, Cynthia, told an officer her son-in-law was seen at the home earlier that day.

When the Briscoes arrived home, they found multiple items missing, but a police report did not list the items.

Mr. Briscoe, who was hurt severely when a tractor-trailer crashed into his pickup, was given prescriptions for OxyContin, his brother-in-law, Jeff Podgorski, said.

After suspecting who had stolen his pain relievers,Mr. Briscoe began keeping them in a safe in his home, Mr. Podgorski said.

Mr. Haas was charged Dec. 22 in Fulton County Eastern District Court with illegal possession of OxyContin last summer.

Mr. Haas yesterday remained in an intensive care unit of Medical College of Ohio Hospitals, where he was taken Tuesday, according to the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio.

While incarcerated at the regional jail near Stryker on Tuesday, corrections officials became concerned about his behavior.

It was unclear yesterday from what he suffered.