Herron: Troubling questions in woman’s death
By MARY ANN GREIERLISBON -Columbiana County Prosecutor Robert Herron said Sherry L. Ieropoli's son was involving in the shooting which took her life Sunday, but questions remain about what happened at the state Route 45 residence in Lisbon.
"I am troubled by what appear to be inconsistencies in the forensic evaluation as compared to statements obtained by the sheriff's department as to the circumstances of the shooting," Herron said Wednesday.
At the present time, he said "all indications are that the son was involved in the shooting," but he wouldn't talk about what may have precipitated the shooting or whether the victim was also involved.
The only people in the house at the time were the victim, her husband Nicholas and her son Jesse. Herron said he believed "the husband may have been in another area of the home at the time of the shooting."
He revealed two separate shots were reportedly fired from a .22-caliber rifle in the Ieropoli residence. The gun was still loaded when investigators took the weapon as evidence.
The Sheriff's Office was called to the residence at 7:42 p.m. Sunday regarding a shooting, with the victim found dead from a gunshot wound, a press release said. Herron wouldn't say if there was more than one wound or where Ieropoli was hit.
He noted that investigators are still conducting interviews with some people, including individuals who had been to the residence just prior to the shooting, but left before it happened. The victim's husband and son had already been interviewed.
Chief Deputy Allen Haueter of the Columbiana County Sheriff's Office said they're getting tips from some of the rumors about the shooting and detectives are conducting interviews. He said he didn't expect to hear anything from the coroner's office until sometime in September.
The shooting death of 20-year-old Tyler Unkefer, of 1864 Lower Elkton Road, Columbiana, after an exchange of gunfire with the owner of a state Route 154 property in June remains under investigation. Herron said they're waiting for forensic evidence to be completed regarding the weapons before determining whether to take the case to the grand jury. Investigators said Unkefer had been asked to leave a party at the residence, then returned with a gun. The property owner had been identified as 29-year-old Jarrod Richter
Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net
