The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Two plead in Lorain murder
A pair of defendants have admitted to their involvement in the 2016 murder of 38-year-old Jimmie Holland Jr. in his Lorain home.
Mark Sanchez, 26, and Latrice Thomas, 38, both of Lorain, pleaded guilty Sept. 28 before Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James L. Miraldi.
Sanchez pleaded to aggravated murder, two counts of murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of felonious assault and single counts of burglary and obstructing justice.
Thomas admitted to obstructing justice.
Lorain County Prosecutor Dennis Will said the pleadings come as part of an agreement between his office and Sanchez and Thomas, and they will cooperate and testify against one of the remaining suspects in the case.
Elliot L. Kirkland, 29, of Lorain, is facing charges of aggravated murder,
two counts of murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of felonious assault and single counts of burglary, obstructing justice and weapons under disability.
Jasmine A. Schafer, 29, of Lorain, is facing, two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated burglary and single counts of burglary and obstructing justice.
Kirkland, who is facing the death penalty if convicted, is scheduled to stand trial Jan. 7. Officials have not set a trial date for Schafer.
Miraldi will not sentence Sanchez and Thomas until the conclusion of Kirkland’s trial in order to ensure their cooperation.
Schafer made the initial call to 911 the morning of Aug. 29, 2016, after she said she found Holland lying in the bedroom of his Lexington Avenue apartment when she had arrived to braid his hair, police said at the time.
When dispatchers asked about the address of the apartment, Schafer told them she was returning to the residence because she’d left citing a fear that the perpetrators may have been watching the area, police said.
Lorain police Detective Sgt. Buddy Sivert said during Schafer’s preliminary hearing in Lorain Municipal Court, she changed her story while questioned.
Officers were able to compile videos of Schafer and Kirkland buying 9 mm bullets that matched a shell casing later found in Thomas’ purse, investigators said.
They also found video of the pair stealing a laser sight for a handgun at the same Elyria sporting goods store.
Thomas is out on bond awaiting sentencing. Sanchez is in the Lorain County Jail on $100,000 bond.