FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio (WOIO) – Cleveland Metroparks Police are looking into possible connections between a five-year-old double murder and the recent West Park murder-suicide.

According to the director of communications from Cleveland Metroparks, police are specifically looking into Bryan Hurt, the suspect who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after murdering his neighbor.

Carnell Sledge and Kate Brown, two longtime friends, were murdered near a park bench in the Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation almost six years ago on June 4, 2019.

Sledge and Brown were killed in broad daylight at the busy park. Both had been shot in the head.

Their killer has not been found.

Earlier this month, Hurt allegedly shot and killed his neighbor, 68-year-old Thomas Overall, in broad daylight.

The shooting happened on the 15700 block of Munn Road in the West Park neighborhood.

The families of Sledge and Brown released a statement Saturday morning thanking community members for the outpouring of support.

The families also said they intend to announce plans for this year’s memorial soon.

19 News asked Metroparks if a specific lead drew them to look into Hurt but Metroparks has yet to respond.

A $100,000 reward is available for information leading to an arrest. Tipsters will stay anonymous.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Trump Administration announced that Job Corps centers will begin a “phased pause in operations,” including the Job Corps center in Cleveland, according to Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11)

The Department of Labor stated that their decision “aligns with the President’s FY 2026 budget proposal,” which calls for eliminating Job Corps. (page 28)

“This decision is a betrayal of young people in Cleveland who rely on Job Corps to take control of their own future,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. “For 60 years, Job Corps has provided low-income youth with the skills, training, and support they need to stand on their own two feet. In Cleveland, that legacy runs deep through our trades, our hospitals, and our regional workforce. Instead of abruptly closing this center and others across the country, the Trump Administration should work to improve the program so that we continue to invest in workforce development.”

The Job Corps is a federal job training and education program designed to serve low-income youth between the ages of 16 and 24 who face barriers to education and employment, founded by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.

The Cleveland Job Corps Center has played a pivotal role in Northeast Ohio since its inception in 1965.

The Cleveland center serves nearly 400 students each year, giving them opportunities to complete high school coursework, receive technical training, and prepare for careers in industries that support our regional economy.

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