Lorain man seeks to plead guilty in murder

A Lorain man facing the death penalty in connection to a 2018 murder, is attempting to plead guilty.

Lorenzo Garcia, 32, is facing eight counts of aggravated murder, five counts of murder, two counts of aggravated burglary, four counts of aggravated robbery, six counts of kidnapping, four counts of felonious assault, two counts of theft, four counts of tampering with evidence and single counts of grand theft of motor vehicle, attempted murder and having weapons under disability in connection to the March 27, 2018, murder of Linda Wisniewski and the attempted murder of a 28-year-old man in Lorain.

Garcia has expressed his desire to plead to the indictment as charged, but due to it being a capital case, that process is complicated, Lorain County Prosecutor Dennis Will said.

Since this is a capital case, Garcia must plead guilty in front of a threejudge panel.

Will said a hearing to pick the panel is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Sept. 19, before Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James L. Miraldi.

One of Garcia’s attorneys, Kenneth Lieux, said his client’s decision to plead is against the advice of him and his other attorney, Daniel Wightman.

Lieux said the attorneys have funds for an expert who is performing a psychological evaluation on Garcia, but that has yet to be completed.

The September hearing will give Garcia another chance to change his mind about the admission of guilt, Lieux said.

If he does plead guilty and that plea is accepted, the case then will move to the mitigation phase in which Lieux and Wightman can argue that the death penalty is not suited for the crime.

Garcia’s alleged accomplice in the murder and attempted murder, 26-yearold Antonio Martinez, of Lorain, is facing eight counts of aggravated murder of Wisniewski, five counts of murder, two counts of aggravated burglary, four counts of aggravated robbery, six counts of kidnapping, four counts of felonious assault, two counts of theft, two counts of tampering with evidence and single counts of grand theft of motor vehicle, attempted murder and having weapons under disability.

He is scheduled for a pretrial Sept. 5 before Miraldi.