Body found in N. Toledo ID’d; death a homicide

8/20/2013

A body found last month in a North Toledo garage was confirmed Monday as that of a central-city man reported missing in January and his death was ruled a homicide.

Zak Burton, 24, of 1016 Bronson Ave. was identified by DNA testing as the person whose body was discovered July 10 in the garage behind a vacant house at 2713 Buckeye St., Toledo police said. He had been reported missing Jan. 28 by Jasmine McCoy, the mother of their 6-year-old daughter and 2-month-old son.

Ms. McCoy told police she had last heard from him on May 16, 2012. While he had a history of going absent for up to a month at a time, he made sure to telephone their daughter at least once per week, she said.

A former occupant of the vacant house reported finding the body to police. An autopsy performed by the Lucas County Coroner's Office revealed Mr. Burton had been shot. Police said they have no suspects in the killing.