Man competent for trial in woman s June slaying

12/9/2008

A 42-year-old South Toledo man charged in the June murder of a woman whose body was found in a shed near the Southwyck Shopping Center yesterday was found competent to stand trial in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Dana Todd Rister, of 2223 Laurel Valley Drive, pleaded not guilty to two alternate counts of murder. Judge Gene Zmuda set a Jan. 5 hearing date.

Mr. Rister was indicted in September in the murder of Debra Pioterek, 57, whose body was found June 26 in the shed behind a business at 5225 Southwyk Blvd. Mr. Rister was arrested Sept. 15 in San Bernadino, Calif.

Authorities said he confessed to killing the woman, who he said he didn t know.

Mr. Rister is in the Lucas County jail in lieu of a $1 million bond. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.