Share

Ohio man charged in slayings, kidnapping pleads not guilty

When Forsthoefel asked Grate if his attorney had advised on implications of those actions, Grate responded, “Yes, sir”.

Advertisement

This photo provided by Ashland County Sheriff Office shows Shawn M. Grate.

Assuming Grate is indicted, he’ll be arraigned Thursday, September 29th at 8 am.

Grate was arrested Tuesday after a 911 call from a woman claiming she was being held against her will led police to two homes on Covert Court.

Grate, 40, was charged with two counts of murder and one count of kidnapping in that case. Bond was set at $1 million during a bond hearing on Friday. She was reported missing on February 6th, 2015.

On Sunday, Mansfield Police Chief Ken Coontz said police have reopened an investigation into the death of Mansfield resident Rebekah Leicy, whose body was found in a wooded area in Ashland County in March 2015. Mansfield police have re-opened the investigation into Leicy’s death, although they have not officially confirmed whether it is related to Grate.

Authorities are trying to determine whether Grate was involved in the deaths of two other people, including a 2015 cold case that initially appeared to be an overdose.

Advertisement

Their bodies, and the kidnapping victim were found in a house on Covert Court in Ashland. Authorities said a third body was then found on Tuesday in neighbouring Richland County after Grate confessed to killing the woman in June.

Shawn Grate appears in front of a judge via Skype.                      WEWS