WITNESS: PISTOL, RIFLE WERE HIDDEN

Murder trial continues for Medina man accused of killing Elyria man

A 9 mm pistol and a high-powered rifle were found hidden in accused murderer Jeremy Diestler’s mother’s Grafton home several hours after the homicide, according to Elyria police detective Michael Fairbanks.

Diestler, 32, of Medina, is charged with aggravated murder, two counts of murder, three counts of felonious assault in connection with the shooting death of Matthew Stinson, 25, in the stairwell of his 424 Wesley Ave., Elyria apartment, about 10:30 p.m., Sept. 17, 2014.

Fairbanks testified Jan. 26 in Lorain County Common Pleas Court that he found the pistol hidden between pipes under the sink in an upstairs bathroom in the house Sept. 18.

Along with the pistol, a box of 9 mm ammunition was in plain sight under the sink, he said. Twentyseven bullets were missing from the box, he added.

During an earlier proceeding in the trial, Elyria police officer Joseph Figula testified that 9 mm shell casing were found at the murder scene.

Fairbanks told jurors the rifle was found wrapped in a towel in a corner of the

Davidson told the jury that when Diestler was taken into custody, he said that he knew the arrest was coming and that he had gone to Stinson’s apartment to buy marijuana the night of the murder.

attached garage.

Earlier in the day, Elyria police detective Todd Straub testified that he took part in Diestler’s arrest.

According to Straub, police located Diestler’s Chevrolet Tahoe parked in front of his mother’s home late on the evening the murder took place or possibly very early the next day.

Detectives surveilled the area while a search warrant for the vehicle and home were procured, he said.

The morning of Sept. 18, police saw Diestler getting into the car and driving away, Straub said. Officers followed Diestler for about a mile and then pulled him over, he said.

After parking the Tahoe, Diestler immediately placed his hands outside of the window, which Straub said was unusual.

A search of the Tahoe produced a rifle bullet casing lodged between the windshield and the hood, a 38-special stashed in a compartment in the center console and an AK 47 wrapped in a towel in the trunk, Straub said.

The 38-special and AK 47 previously were identified by Diestler’s father, Hillary Diestler, as being stolen from Diestler’s grandmother’s Medina home.

Elyria police detective John Davidson was Straub’s partner at the time of the investigation, also testified.

Davidson told the jury that when Diestler was taken into custody, he said that he knew the arrest was coming and that he had gone to Stinson’s apartment to buy marijuana the night of the murder.

The trial is to resume at 9 a.m., Jan. 30, in Common Pleas Court Judge James L. Miraldi.

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL Elyria police Detective Robert Hudzinski examines evidence presented to him during the murder trial of Jeremy Diestler, Jan. 26. Hudzinski told Lorain County Assistant Prosecutor Donna Freeman the two spent shell casings, presented as evidence, were...

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL Lorain County Assistant Prosecutor Donna Freeman questions Elyria police Detective Todd Straub during the murder trial of Jeremy Diestler, Jan. 26. Straub testified he located the AK-47, pictured, in Diestler’s black, Chevrolet SUV when he was taken in...