Identity released of man killed in Bedford Township

9/10/2009

Authorities have released the name of the man found dead in Bedford Township and report they have found his car in East Toledo.

James Williams, 38, was found inside a house at 7052 S. Telegraph Rd. by his father about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. After becoming involved in the investigation, Monroe County Sheriff's deputies said that his car, a 2007 silver Ford Fusion with the license vanity plate, Fusion, was missing.

That car was found in an alley between Ironwood Avenue and Crystal Street in east Toledo on Wednesday night, Toledo police said. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Crime Stopper at 419-255-1111.

The story as it appeared in earlier editions of The Blade and toledoblade.com:

By MIKE SIGOV

BLADE STAFF WRITER

MONROE - A 38-year-old man was found dead at his Monroe County house yesterday, and sheriff's deputies consider the death homicide.

The victim's father found the body about 8:30 a.m. in the house at 7052 South Telegraph Rd. in Bedford Township.

The son's car was gone, and there was no sign of forced entry, said sheriff's Sgt. Heath Velliquette.

The victim's identity was not released, and Sergeant Velliquette declined to give any more details.

He said the victim was last seen early Tuesday morning and a family member last spoke with him Tuesday night.

Sergeant Velliquette said the victim's car is missing, and police are searching for the 2007 silver Ford Fusion with a Michigan vanity license plate that spells Fusion.

Ronnie Vance has lived next door to the victim's house since January and said he was awakened about 8:45 a.m. yesterday by police who said that his neighbor was dead and they were looking for blood traces.

Mr. Vance said he heard his neighbor's dog "bark pretty excitedly just before dawn yesterday," but heard nothing else that would indicate a crime had occurred.

The 51-year-old man said he had never seen his neighbor, saying he kept to himself and was very quiet, but that he kept a very neat lawn.

"It's pretty scary," Mr. Vance said, adding that if the crime proves to be a random burglary, that could cause him to move because "it could have been me."

He went on to say he wasn't surprised that he hadn't heard more.

"With the railroad tracks nearby, you can't hear anything," he said, "so I keep a baseball bat by the bed at night."