Sandusky man vanishes after verdict in theft trial

4/8/2006

SANDUSKY - A Sandusky man who did not return to the courthouse after his attorney told him by phone that an Erie County Common Pleas jury had reached a verdict remained at-large yesterday.

Kellan Krueger was convicted Thursday of charges he stole about $48,000 from his grandmother by misusing her bank account, credit cards, and investments.

He was last seen leaving the courthouse Thursday morning to drive the grandmother, 73-year-old Mary Bressler, home. Ms. Bressler later said she did not know where he went after he dropped her off.

When news was received that a verdict had been reached, his defense attorney, Beverly Newell-Hancock, called her client, who told her he would return in about 30 minutes.

After waiting an hour, the judge called in the jury to announce the verdict.

Krueger, 19, will be sentenced after he is caught, Erie County Common Pleas Judge Roger Binette said.

A bench warrant was issued charging Krueger with failure to appear at a court proceeding, the sheriff's office said. Additional charges could be filed by the prosecutor's office, deputies said.

Ms. Newell-Hancock, Krueger's defense attorney, did not return a call for comment yesterday.