2 indicted in drug-related slaying of woman in 1994

11/5/2002

Two men were indicted yesterday by a Lucas County grand jury for the drug-related murder of a 31-year-old Toledo woman who was found in the Maumee River in 1994.

Haji J. Amin, 29, of 820 Marmion Ave. and Douglas E. Booth, 27, of 7544 West Central Ave., Sylvania Township, were indicted on one count each of murder.

They are charged in the death of Christine Lucas, whose last known address was 38 Stratton St. She was found July 24, 1994, floating along the edge of the river near Lotus Avenue and Bowman Street by a woman walking her dog. Police said there were bruises on Mrs. Lucas' face and head.

The Lucas County coroner, who identified Mrs. Lucas through fingerprint comparisons, determined that she died as the result of drowning but also said she had been beaten in the head and face shortly before she died. It was estimated she had been dead 24 to 36 hours before her body was found.

Toledo police Sgt. Steve Forrester said investigators reopened the case in the spring and developed information for the indictments. He declined to say what evidence police developed. “We believe they beat her and drowned her at the riverbank location where she was found,” he said.

Susie Clark, the victim's mother, reported her daughter missing after hearing news reports of a partially clothed body found in the river. She said the indictments bring some closure for her family. “I'm glad they finally got the two men who did this to her,” Mrs. Clark said. “It has been rough.”

She said she has gained custody of the victim's five children, now ages 13 to 19.

Amin was convicted in 1996 of robbery and released on parole in July. Booth was released from prison in February for a domestic violence conviction from Wood County last year. He is serving 90 days in the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio in Stryker for a misdemeanor domestic violence charge from Toledo Municipal Court.