Suspect in murders of three had a history of violence
One victim had restraining order
KIRKERSVILLE, Ohio — Court records show the man authorities say gunned down an Ohio village police chief and two nursing home employees had a history of violence, including against the nurse who was among the slain.
The suspect, Thomas Hartless, 43, was found dead inside Pine Kirk Care Center.
Nurse Marlina Medrano, 46, nurse’s aide Cindy Krantz, 48, and Kirkersville Police Chief Steven Eric Disario, 36, were killed in the Friday attack.
State and local authorities said Saturday the investigation was continuing and they had no new information to release on the deaths in the village of some 500 residents, roughly 25 miles east of Columbus.
Spokeswoman Jill Del Greco, of the Ohio attorney general’s office, said investigators had more interviews planned and learning more about the connection between Hartless and Medrano is part of their efforts. Authorities have said they had been in a relationship.
Records show Medrano had obtained civil protection orders against Hartless.
Hartless was released from jail in April after his latest domestic violence case in March. State prison records show he served eight months in 2010 for the 2009 abduction of another woman.
“I am afraid to be alone with him, that he will hurt me for good,” Medrano wrote in her latest petition this month. The Columbus Dispatch reported that court officials said Friday that protection order was still in effect.
Records show Medrano had reported injuries including a concussion and cuts requiring stitches.
The Dispatch reported that she had earlier told police he once showed her a hole he had dug and said he would put her in it if she didn’t stay with him. She also told police Hartless “doesn’t like police.”