Woman found shot to death in Lyons

12/11/2001

LYONS, Ohio - Robin Evans was a homebody, her sister said - someone who loved to bake, clean, and decorate her house.

Now, Tanya Schutt wonders what happened early yesterday morning before emergency crews were called to her sister's house and found her dead.

The Fulton County sheriff's department is investigating the death of Mrs. Evans, 43, who died early yesterday of a single gunshot wound in the chest.

“We don't know what happened,” said Ms. Schutt of her older sister. “I'm more angry now. I've cried all day. Now, I'm angry and need to know what's going on.”

Deputies and members of the Lyons rescue squad responded to the Evans home on Kennedy Street, just north of the village's small downtown.

Mrs. Evans was found bleeding on the family's patio and pronounced dead at the scene.

The sheriff's department said the call for help came in just before 4 a.m. Sheriff Darrell Merillat was not available to comment.

The Fulton County assistant coroner ordered an autopsy, which will be conducted early today.

Lyons is about 35 miles west of Toledo.

Mrs. Evans' husband, Robert, said he did not want to comment. He had told family members that he had a small spat with his wife earlier that day, according to Mrs. Schutt.

The couple was married in October, 1993. Mrs. Evans has two children from a previous marriage, Douglas Gill II, 20, of Toledo, and Natalie Gill, 18, who lived at home.

Ms. Schutt said Natalie was not at home when her mother died.

The small street where the Evanses live was quiet yesterday afternoon, and there was little evidence of the early morning events.

Christmas decorations adorned the family's yard, and two dogs barked in the fenced-in backyard.

Ms. Schutt said her sister loved her three dogs and took pride in dressing up her house for the holidays.

Mrs. Evans was a bus driver for Evergreen Local Schools, a job her sister said she loved.

“She was just such a neat person. I'm going to miss her,” Ms. Schutt said tearfully. “She was just precious.”

The Biehl & Malone Funeral Home in Lyons will handle Mrs. Evans' funeral, although no details were available yesterday.