BUCYRUS, Ohio – The coroner in Crawford County says the four men who were found dead in separate homes in Bucyrus Monday and Tuesday were beaten, strangled or both.
Meanwhile, residents of the small northern Ohio city tried to understand the sudden outburst of violence by one of their own.
Coroner Dr. Michael Johnson said Thursday that two of the victims were strangled with a cord and beaten in the head, one died as the result of strangulation and the fourth died from a beating.
Donald Hoffman, 41, (above) has been charged with four counts of aggravated murder in the slayings and Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall asked for a minimum of $2.5 million bond.
But Judge Sean Leuthold took the amount even higher, to $10 million, $2.5 million on each of four counts.
“This bond is set to protect the citizens of Crawford County. This is the highest bond this court has ever set,” Leuthold said.
Police haven’t released details of how Hoffman knew the men or a possible motive.
Leuthold appointed a lawyer for Hoffman. A message left for the attorney wasn’t immediately returned.
Meanwhile, Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser told a crowd at a community prayer gathering in the portico at Bucyrus City Hall Thursday afternoon that it was the day to begin healing from the collective hurt the city endured from the four homicides