Man competent to stand trial in Willoughby murder case

Second competency evaluation completed, process can move forward

After the completion of a second competency evaluation, Lake County Common Pleas Court Judge John P. O’Donnell has ruled that the case against the man accused of murdering a Willoughby man can move forward.

Herbert Beard, 23, is accused of killing 58-yearold Sam Pizzuto inside the victim’s home in July.

“I certainly respect the results of said report, but for various reasons on behalf of Mr.

Beard we are requesting a second evaluation,” his attorney Cory Hinton had told O’Donnell at an Oct. 10 hearing that had found Beard competent to stand trial. “Those reasons include but are not limited to interactions that I’ve had with Mr. Beard subsequent to this report being prepared.”

The second psychologist also found that Beard is competent to stand trial.

Beard was arraigned in Willoughby Municipal Court in July on charges of murder as well as third-degree felony tampering with evidence and fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property. He is being held in the Lake County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond.

A trial date has not yet been set, as Beard awaits indictment by the Lake County grand jury.

Willoughby police found Pizzuto dead inside a firstfloor bedroom of his Arlington Drive home July 9. Police had come to the home during a welfare check after he had not been seen or

heard from since July 1.

Willoughby police learned that Pizzuto’s Dodge Caravan was missing from the home. But detectives eventually located the van and learned that it had been sold to a Cleveland resident by two people, who subsequently fled to Columbus, according to the Willoughby Police Department.

Detectives identified the pair as Beard and 25-yearold Miriah Provitt, and arrest warrants were obtained 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.

Provitt is facing a fourthdegree felony receiving stolen property charge. She waived her right to a speedy trial on Aug. 29 according to court records.

Beard