Woman held in Northwood death

Bunch

NOT BLADE PHOTO

The body of Robert Porter, 60, was found inside this house at 350 West Andrus Rd. Mr. Porter, a carpenter at the University of Toledo, had been shot once in the head before someone set the home ablaze. Police said they do not know the relationship between Mr. Porter and Sarah Bunch, who has been charged in the case.

A 20-year-old woman has admitted to shooting a man at least once in the head before he was found in his burning home in Northwood, an assistant Wood County prosecutor said yesterday.

Sarah Bunch of 27695 Tracy Rd., Lot 383, Perrysburg Township, was charged with murder and arraigned yesterday in Perrysburg Municipal Court via video from the Wood County jail, where she was being held in lieu of $300,000 bond, authorities said.

Paul Dobson, an assistant county prosecutor, said Ms. Bunch indicated to authorities her motive in the shooting, but he declined to release those details, nor would he say how the 60-year-old victim and suspect knew each other. "This is an ongoing investigation. We are still gathering a great deal of information and there are still many unanswered questions," Mr. Dobson said.

Several of Ms. Bunch's relatives, including her mother, attended the arraignment, but declined to comment afterward.

The relatives said they are trying to get custody of Ms. Bunch's 2-year-old son.

Bunch

The body of Robert Porter was found inside his house at 350 West Andrus Rd. when authorities responded there about

4:30 p.m. Monday on a report of a fire.

Mr. Porter, who has worked as a carpenter for the University of Toledo since 1984, died of at least one gunshot wound in the head, Mr. Dobson said.

He was found in a rear room of his house while firefighters doused a blaze that appeared to have started in a front bedroom. Mr. Dobson said authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire.

A visibly upset woman came to the scene more than two hours after the shooting with a man identified as her father and was taken away in an ambulance shortly thereafter.

Mr. Dobson confirmed yesterday that Ms. Bunch was taken to Bay Park Community Hospital Monday night, where she spent six to seven hours before she was taken into custody.

He declined to say why she was taken to the hospital.

Marilyn Komives, 63, who lives a few houses down from where Ms. Bunch grew up in the 1900 block of Sharon Drive, said she was upset to learn of the murder charge filed against the woman.

"It breaks my heart," Ms. Komives said yesterday. "She's always been good to me."

Contact Laren Weber at:

lweber@theblade.com

or 419-724-6050.