Slaying suspect arrested in California
9/16/2008A South Toledo man was arrested yesterday in San Bernardino, Calif., in connection with the death in June of a homeless woman found strangled in a shed near the Southwyck Shopping Center, police said.
Dana Todd Rister, 42, of 2223 Laurel Valley Drive, was charged with murder and was being held at the San Bernardino County Sheriff s Department pending an extradition hearing today.
Police believe Rister fled to California shortly after the slaying.
Debra Pioterek, 57, was found dead about 8 p.m. June 26 covered with a blanket and lying on her side in an 8-foot shed with a missing door behind a business at 5225 Southwyck Blvd., near Reynolds Road. A local artist who was considering renting the building found her surrounded by bags of women s clothing and personal paperwork.
Authorities would not disclose details of a possible motive and would not say whether Rister knew Ms. Pioterek.
Toledo police issued a warrant Sept. 9 charging Rister with murder, according to Toledo Municipal Court records.
While Ms. Pioterek had no current address, she was last registered to vote in September, 2007, from an address on West Alexis Road, according to state voting records.