Published June 27, 2009 01:12 am - Unidentified departments are helping Conneaut police detectives investigate last month’s murder of Richard Hackathorn, said Safety Director Jon Arcaro.
Outside agencies helping CPD with murder probe
By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com Star Beacon
CONNEAUT — Unidentified departments are helping Conneaut police detectives investigate last month’s murder of Richard Hackathorn, said Safety Director Jon Arcaro.
“We’re working with other agencies on the case,” said Arcaro, who also serves as Conneaut’s police chief. He declined to elaborate.
Hackathorn, 65, was found slumped in the doorway of his home at 255 Clay St., early on the morning of May 26. He had been severely beaten in the head with an unknown object. Hackathorn died from his injuries a few days later
Friends and neighbors described Hackathorn as a kindly, helpful man who lived alone but opened his home to anyone — even strangers. Police are still holding two people, a man and a woman, believed to have some knowledge of the crime on warrants unrelated to the murder.
Investigators are awaiting results of an analysis of forensic evidence, Arcaro said. Findings are expected soon, he said.
Shortly after the attack, police used search warrants to examine local homes for clothing they suspected may contain traces of the victim’s blood. Garments belonging to a male and female were retrieved, according to Conneaut Municipal Court records.
Detectives also obtained warrants to retrieve cellular telephone records, according to court documents. Results from those warrants have not yet been filed with the court.