Lorain man arraigned on murder charge

Accused murderer John L. Rowan did not enter a plea at his arraignment hearing Oct. 16 in Elyria Municipal Court.

Rowan, 37, of Lorain County, is charged with a single count of aggravated murder in connection to the death of Harold Litten Jr. of North Ridgeville.

He is being held at the Lorain County Jail on $2 million

bond.

In an Oct. 3 news conference, representatives of the North Ridgeville Police Department named Rowan as the suspect in the murder of 60-yearold Litten, who was found beaten to death in an outbuilding on his Jaycox Road property May 26 during a pre-scheduled search. Litten had been reported missing April 20.

According to investigators, Rowan had done odd jobs for Litten at the property in the past and may have killed him while attempting to rob him.

Detectives say they were able to tie Rowan to the scene using DNA, fingerprints and cell phone evidence.

Until Oct. 15, Rowan was being held at the Lake Erie Correctional Facility for a parole violation.

Police said he turned himself in on the violation, as a possible means to avoid suspicion in the murder.

Court records say Rowan was found to be indigent and will have an attorney appointed by the court to defend him.

Elyria Municipal Court Judge Lisa A. Locke Graves is presiding over the case.

Rowan’s preliminary hearing starts at 10 a.m., Oct. 24.

Rowan