Witnesses, statements to police conflict on alleged murderers whereabouts
By Nick Sabo
September 27, 2011
586
Testimony from witnesses Tuesday, Sept. 27, and statements in a May 16 interview with police put Lonnie Brown in two different places the night before 27-year-old Jamie Hout was discovered murdered in her Orrville home.
On the second day of a jury trial in which Brown, 48, 7421 Back Orrville Road, Wooster, is facing murder charges in Houts death, several witnesses testified that Brown spent the night May 4 at an Orrville home in Houts neighborhood. The next day, May 5, he and a friend planned to visit Houts residence on McGill Street.
In a videotaped interview with Orrville Police Det. Josh Hunt on May 16, Brown said he spent Wednesday evening at home and went to work early Thursday morning.
Houts death was reported by Brown at approximately 7:17 p.m., May 5. Brown was arrested after the May 16 interview, allegedly tied to the crime scene by a broken beer bottle neck that had his fingerprints in Houts blood on it.
Orrville resident Lisa Corn testified that Brown had stayed overnight at her home May 4. He arrived there in the evening and took a long shower that last about 45 minutes, Corn said.
Two mutual friends arrived at Corns residence the same evening. One of the friends, Chris Linkous, said he and Brown planned to visit Hout Thursday. However, Linkous was unable to go the next day.
Corn described Brown as a friend and said he sometimes stayed overnight at her place because it is closer to work for Brown. Browns mother had been giving him a ride to work from their Wooster residence, Corn said, and Brown didnt like inconveniencing his mother in this way.
On May 5, Corn said, Brown got up at 10 a.m. and said he was going to visit Hout. Corn and Linkous said they both learned of Houts death later that evening. Linkous ran to Houts residence after hearing of her death and found Brown there pacing, real distraught.
Brown was confronted with the evidence on the bottle neck by Hunt in the May 16 interview. Brown denied he had anything to do with Houts death, repeating his version of the events of May 3-5 as previously told to police.
During the course of the interview, Brown became angry and defensive. Hunt testified he used an interrogation method known as a way out, telling Brown he personally did not believe Brown would intentionally harm Hout. Hunt said he his intention was to draw a confession out of Brown before arresting him.
Hunt took Browns glasses and shoes into evidence at the close of the interview.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Williams is expected to continue with the states case today.
