The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Vermilion woman’s murder trial continues
Law enforcement officers had to consider financial troubles and possible sexual abuse as motives in the shooting death of a Vermilion man, said an investigator for the prosecution.
Testimony of Lorain County Prosecutor’s Investigator Rick Thomas capped the prosecution’s case in the murder trial of Julene M. Simko, 38, who is charged with shooting her husband, Jeremy Simko, at the couple’s North Ridge Road home in Vermilion on Nov. 18, 2009.
On Sept. 21, Thomas took the stand for several hours of questioning by Lorain County Assistant Prosecutor Laura Dezort and defense attorney Michael Stepanik at Lorain County Common Pleas Court.
Police found Jeremy Simko shot once in the back of the head while he was sleeping.
The defense has argued Julene Simko found her husband bleeding in their second-floor bedroom.
Thomas testified he was not at the scene when it happened, but began his review several years afterward.
Using police reports and his own research, Thomas answered questions about what happened that night.
On the stand, Thomas recounted details about the surveillance cameras, guns and other security measures at the Simkos’ home.
He also testified about details of the couple’s sexual relationship — including a so-called “master-slave” agreement for sex.
In the investigation, erotic photos of Julene Simko became a cause for concern when considered with other factors, Thomas said.
The day before Jeremy Simko’s death, someone used a computer at the home to access information about First Federal Savings of Lorain, Thomas said.
An earlier prosecution witness said the couple were turned down for a loan to buy land next to theirs just days before Jeremy Simko died.
The same computer on the same day had a log of Internet access to the online obituaries of Julene Simko’s father and other family members, Thomas said.
Common Pleas Judge Mark Betleski, who will determine Julene Simko’s fate, questioned Thomas directly to explain how those factors could lead investigators to theorize about a possible motive in the case.
“If we have a sexually traumatized child and then they enter into a relationship with an adult that, for lack of a better word, perpetuates that abuse, and then we, it has to be taken into consideration in totality of circumstances as the investigators view them,” Thomas said. “You couple that with the obituary that night, the issue of the denial of the loan, the stress, whether or not the finances could have tripped something and an argument ensued later in the night.
“It is not uncommon in my experience, dealing with multiple sexual assault victims, that sometimes things will be a triggering event that may be a catharsis for them to heal or go over the edge. So it was simply an avenue we were looking at.”
Under cross-examination, Stepanik questioned Thomas about the couple’s “alternative lifestyle.”
Thomas acknowledged the agreement referred to the possibility that Julene Simko would have sexual relations with people other than her husband, but there was no proof it ever happened.
It was unclear if anyone other than the Simkos knew about that relationship, Thomas said during Stepanik’s questioning.
In some of the couple’s photographs and videos, it appeared Julene Simko was smiling and laughing as the couple engaged in sexual activity, Thomas said.
As for the couple’s house and its security measures, Thomas acknowledged it could be easy for someone to avoid tripping the driveway alarm if they knew it was there.
The security cameras showed views of parts of the couple’s property, but one entire side of the house was not visible by any cameras, he said.
Simko is facing charges of aggravated murder, two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault and a single count of evidence tampering.
On Sept. 21, Simko wore a blue blouse, purple hiplength sweater and black pants. Seated next to Stepanik and defense attorney Jack Bradley, she appeared to read through various papers at times during Thomas’ testimony.
The bench trial was to continue Sept. 22 as the defense begins presenting its case.