Search expands in Lima slayings

4/22/2005

LIMA, Ohio - Toledo police joined the search yesterday for a man wanted for questioning in the murders of two Lima women after a sport utility vehicle belonging to one of the victims turned up in Toledo.

Lima police said they are looking for Michael P. Glenn, 46, calling him "a person of extreme interest'' in the double homicide.

Lanette McDonald, 27, and her mother, Carmen Chitman, 51, were found beaten to death about noon Wednesday in the home they shared on St. Johns Avenue on Lima's south side.

Police said Ms. Chitman had a prior relationship with Glenn.

Autopsies conducted yesterday by the Lucas County Coroner's Office in Toledo showed that the two died from blunt trauma to their torsos, said Dr. Gary Beasley, Allen County coroner.

Their bodies were discovered after a co-worker of Ms. McDonald from the Lima Allen Council on Community Affairs called her residence because she did not come to work. Ms. McDonald's young son told her his mother was dead. When she asked to speak to his grandmother, he said she was dead too.

The co-worker went to the house, got the boy and his sister, and called police.

Police, who have provided few details about the homicides, said the only thing that appeared to have been taken was a black 1998 Dodge Durango belonging to Ms. McDonald.

Toledo police Sgt. Steve Forrester said police received information Wednesday afternoon that Glenn tried to sell the sport-utility vehicle at Indiana and Junction avenues in central Toledo.

He said Glenn may have been successful because when officers spotted the SUV being driven erratically on Palmer Street near Lagrange about 10:40 p.m., the man they saw running away from the vehicle did not match Glenn's description. That man was not apprehended, Sergeant Forrester said.

"It's not that unusual for people in the drug underworld to sell cars for drugs or money,'' Sergeant Forrester said.

Authorities said Glenn is insulin dependent and could be at local crack houses.

But he was in the emergency room at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center twice yesterday - at 2:10 a.m. and at 3 p.m. The first time, he left without completing treatment. The second time, he was treated and released just after 5 p.m.

Emily Barry, regional manager of communications for Mercy Health Partners, said emergency room personnel did not know Glenn was wanted by police. The hospital wasn't notified, so the staff didn't alert police, she said.

Ms. Barry refused to say why he sought treatment, citing patient confidentiality.

While Glenn's last known address was in Lima, Toledo police said he has lived in Toledo and has local warrants for theft, domestic violence, and receiving stolen property.

Allen County Prosecutor Juergen Waldick said that in 2000 Glenn pleaded guilty in Allen County Common Pleas Court to a bill of information charging him with theft and attempted sexual battery. He served four years in prison for the offenses.

Mr. Waldick said police have not issued an arrest warrant for Glenn in connection with the homicides but have issued one for parole violation.

Meanwhile, Allen County Children Services has taken custody of Ms. McDonald's two children.

Ms. McDonald worked for about five years as a Head Start teacher in Lima.

A friend from childhood, Tiffany McDonald, said her daughter was in Ms. McDonald's class and loved her as a teacher. "She was a nice person. Whoever did this should rot in Hell," she said.

Blade staff writers Christina Hall and Mike Sigov contributed to this report.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at:

jfeehan@theblade.com

or 419-353-5972.