Mother of Coonrod children, fire investigators testify
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Jurors heard testimony from the mother of Thomas and Stephen Coonrod and saw photos from the investigation into the fire that killed the two little boys on March 7. A photo displayed for jurors showed a nearly empty white-walled closet, clearly depicting tiny, sooty handprints, two toy soldiers, and the outline on the carpet of where the two little bodies were discovered.
In the third day of testimony in his capital murder trial in Highland County Common Pleas Court, Wesley Coonrod was unable to hold back tears as he heard testimony and observed the photos of the crime scene.
Coonrod could face the death penalty if convicted on charges of aggravated murder. He is also charged with aggravated arson, a felony of the second degree; two counts of murder, unclassified felonies; and two counts of child endangering, felonies of the third degree, stemming from a March 7 fire at 115 Lafayette St. in Greenfield that killed his two sons.
Felicia Elliott, formerly Felicia Coonrod, described her relationship with the defendant, her ex-husband and the father of two of her children. She testified that she had not seen her children for three to four months prior to their deaths, saying that she and Coonrod had a contentious relationship. She said that when she questioned Coonrod on what happened the night of the fire, he gave her three different answers. Elliott testified that Coonrod told her he had been drinking that night.
Testimony was also heard from Joyce Krech, an ER nurse who was working the morning 3-year-old Stephen and 4-year-old Thomas Coonrod were brought in, unresponsive to Greenfield Adena Medical Center.
Krech testified about the condition of the children when they were brought in and regarding Coonrod's behavior. She said that she was fearful of Coonrod, and that he was yelling at the doctors and nurses. Krech testified that at one point, he yelled that they were responsible for his kids being dead, and that he also spoke to the boys, saying, "I'm going to get my gun" and "I'm going to be with you soon."
Krech said that she smelled alcohol on Coonrod and that in her more than 30 years of nursing she had never had someone accuse her of not working hard enough to save a patient. She described Coonrod's behavior as "inappropriate."
Defense counsel William Mooney asked Krech to describe the correct behavior that a father should have when he just learned that his children were dead. Krech said that people react in different ways but repeated that she was afraid of Coonrod.
Trace Lawless, a fire investigator with the state fire marshal's office, testified regarding his investigation process, showing jurors a photo slideshow of pictures taken of the crime scene in the hours after the fire, and some of the conclusions he arrived at regarding the fire.
Lawless testified that both of the doors in the apartment were locked. He also said that the bedroom closet, where Thomas and Stephen were discovered, was closed before smoke was in the room. Lawless said he would make that determination because there were no smoke marks inside the closet. On a top shelf of the closet, Lawless said he discovered a smoke detector.
Testimony from Lawless on direct examination continues while the defense calls their first witness. Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss explained to jurors that a defense expert must go out of state Tuesday. Since the jury is anticipated to begin deliberations Wednesday, both the state and defense have agreed to allow the witness, Kevin Keaton, to testify out of order.. Check back to highlandcountypress.com for more on this story as it develops.
Jurors heard testimony from the mother of Thomas and Stephen Coonrod and saw photos from the investigation into the fire that killed the two little boys on March 7. A photo displayed for jurors showed a nearly empty white-walled closet, clearly depicting tiny, sooty handprints, two toy soldiers, and the outline on the carpet of where the two little bodies were discovered.
In the third day of testimony in his capital murder trial in Highland County Common Pleas Court, Wesley Coonrod was unable to hold back tears as he heard testimony and observed the photos of the crime scene.
Coonrod could face the death penalty if convicted on charges of aggravated murder. He is also charged with aggravated arson, a felony of the second degree; two counts of murder, unclassified felonies; and two counts of child endangering, felonies of the third degree, stemming from a March 7 fire at 150 Lafayette St. in Greenfield that killed his two sons.
Felicia Elliott, formerly Felicia Coonrod, described her relationship with the defendant, her ex-husband and the father of two of her children. She testified that she had not seen her children for three to four months prior to their deaths, saying that she and Coonrod had a contentious relationship. She said that when she questioned Coonrod on what happened the night of the fire, he gave her three different answers. Elliott testified that Coonrod told her he had been drinking that night.
Testimony was also heard from Joyce Krech, an ER nurse who was working the morning 3-year-old Stephen and 4-year-old Thomas Coonrod were brought in, unresponsive to Greenfield Adena Medical Center.
Krech testified about the condition of the children when they were brought in and regarding Coonrod's behavior. She said that she was fearful of Coonrod, and that he was yelling at the doctors and nurses. Krech testified that at one point, he yelled that they were responsible for his kids being dead, and that he also spoke to the boys, saying, "I'm going to get my gun" and "I'm going to be with you soon."
Krech said that she smelled alcohol on Coonrod and that in her more than 30 years of nursing she had never had someone accuse her of not working hard enough to save a patient. She described Coonrod's behavior as "inappropriate."
Defense counsel William Mooney asked Krech to describe the correct behavior that a father should have when he just learned that his children were dead. Krech said that people react in different ways but repeated that she was afraid of Coonrod.
Trace Lawless, a fire investigator with the state fire marshal's office, testified regarding his investigation process, showing jurors a photo slideshow of pictures taken of the crime scene in the hours after the fire, and some of the conclusions he arrived at regarding the fire.
Lawless testified that both of the doors in the apartment were locked. He also said that the bedroom closet, where Thomas and Stephen were discovered, was closed before smoke was in the room. Lawless said he would make that determination because there were no smoke marks inside the closet. On a top shelf of the closet, Lawless said he discovered a smoke detector.
Testimony from Lawless on direct examination continues while the defense calls their first witness. Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss explained to jurors that a defense expert must go out of state Tuesday. Since the jury is anticipated to begin deliberations Wednesday, both the state and defense have agreed to allow the witness, Kevin Keaton, to testify out of order.
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