The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Man arraigned in murder of city man
On July 9 police responded to a welfare check call at Sam Pizzuto’s home
Willoughby police have arrested two people following a murder at an Arlington Drive home.
Herbert M. Beard Jr., 23, of Cleveland has been charged with the murder of 58-year-old Sam Pizzuto. Beard is also facing tampering with evidence and receiving stolen property charges. Miriah L. Provitt, 25, of Boardman, has been charged with receiving stolen property.
On July 9 around 12:24 p.m., Willoughby police responded to a welfare check call at Pizzuto’s home on the 37000 block of Arlington Drive. Pizzuto had not been seen or heard from since July 1. Officers founds the rear sliding glass door unlocked and entered the home.
The officers found Pizzuto dead in a first-floor bedroom. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Lake County Coroner’s Office assisted with the processing of the crime scene and investigation. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy and initial findings were that Pizzuto died from blunt force trauma to the head.
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy and initial findings were that Pizzuto died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Police learned that Pizzuto’s Dodge Caravan was missing from the home.
Willoughby detectives located the vehicle and learned that it had been sold to a Cleveland resident by two people. The two subsequently fled to Columbus, according to police.
Detectives identified the pair as Beard and Provitt. Arrest warrants were obtained on July 12 for receiving stolen property. Later that same day, Willoughby detectives along with Columbus police and officers from the U.S. Marshal’s Southern Ohio Violent Task Force found Beard and Provitt on Van Buren Drive in Columbus, and the two were taken into custody without incident.
Police said the pair had briefly resided with Pizzuto at the end of June.
Provitt was returned to Lake County on July 13 and Beard on July 14. Further investigation led detectives to obtain an arrest warrant on July 17 to charge Beard with murder and tampering with evidence.
Beard was arraigned in Willoughby Municipal Court July 19. His bond was set a $1 million. Provitt’s arraignment is set for 1 p.m. July 19.