A man has been charged in connection to a Parma Heights double homicide last month.
Thomas E. Knuff, 42, of Mahoning County has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder. He was released from prison earlier this month after serving 15 and half years for multiple charges, including aggravated armed robbery.
Knuff was charged with fatally stabbing John Mann and Regina Capobianco, 50, of Stark County.
On June 21, their badly decomposed bodies were found inside a home on Nelwood Road in Parma Heights.
“For many of them it’s one of the most difficult crime scenes that they’ve ever had to deal with," said Chief Dan Teele of the Parma Heights Police Department during a press conference Monday.
“Not only did the homicides occur in there, but because of the time and the conditions that were during that time, there were special precautions that had to be taken while they were working in there," he said.
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"As far as the why, that’s something we’re still working through and hopefully at some point we can provide the motive to the families of Regina and John," said Captain Steve Scharschmidt of the Parma Heights Police Department.
Capobianco and Mann picked up Knuff on the day of his release from prison.
Knuff was arrested in Brunswick Hills by the lead investigator in the case, Adam Sloan, who wanted to question Knuff about Capobianco's missing person report. At the time of his arrest, he had warrants out with agencies in Medina and Richland County for drug-related charges.
Detectives picked up Knuff on two breaking and entering warrants. He broke into two Parma Heights businesses about a week after the murders took place.
On June 30, aggravated murder warrants were secured for Knuff.
Knuff appeared in Parma Municipal Court. He waived his preliminary hearing with a bond set for $50 million.
