Clinton pleads innocent in Sandusky murder case

Man suspected of murdering woman, children appears in court

SANDUSKY — The man who is accused of murdering a Sandusky mother and her two children pleaded innocent to the charges in Sandusky Municipal Court yesterday, according to a court clerk.

Curtis Clinton, 41, of Sandusky, appeared via video from Erie County jail. He is charged with three counts of aggravated murder for the killing Heather Jackson, 23; Celina Jackson, 3; and Wayne Jackson, 18 months, in their John Street home on Sept. 8. He also is charged with raping a 17-year-old girl in his Campbell Street apartment on Sept. 3 and is a suspect in two other unrelated rape cases.

Clinton is on suicide watch at the jail and his bond was continued at $3 million. He retained a public defender during his arraignment, but will get another attorney when the case goes to Erie County Common Pleas Court.

Autopsy results revealed that Heather Jackson, whose body was found naked between a mattress and a bed frame, was not raped, however police have said they suspected Celina Jackson, who was found in a closet with Wayne Jackson, was raped. The autopsy report also revealed that clothing was used to strangle the three.

Clinton was arrested the Monday following the murders at Bellevue Hospital where he was taken after he swallowed a large amount of Tyle- nol and Unisom, in what a friend described as a suicide attempt at a Clyde motel, according to a Clyde police report.

Curtis and Jackson had been acquainted for five months, but police could not elaborate on their relationship. He is a sex offender and was released from prison earlier this year after serving 13 years for involuntary manslaughter.

A special Erie County grand jury is set to convene today to consider an indictment against Clinton.

Clinton