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Judge orders maximum sentence for teen driver of stolen Kia in deadly crash

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Judge orders maximum sentence for teen driver of stolen Kia in deadly crash


CLEVELAND — A Cuyahoga County judge hopes to set an example by imposing a maximum sentence for a teen labeled as a “Kia Boy.”

Tuesday, Judge Nancy Margaret Russo ordered a 16-year prison sentence and lifetime driver’s license revocation for Monroe Larkin, III.

The 17-year-old pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and felonious assault for his role in an August 2023 crash that killed one woman and critically injured another.

“She was full of life, laughter and love, the kind of person who could light up a room without even trying,” Leslie Reyes Figueroa said of her younger sister during Tuesday’s sentencing hearing.

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Her other sister, Gardenia Calderon, added, “A lot of things in this life are not for certain. But this, growing old with my sisters, I was sure of.”

Janet Reyes was riding in a car with her friend in August 2023 when a stolen Kia Optima hit the pair.

Woman dies after police say stolen KIA crashes into car in Old Brooklyn

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Woman dies after police say stolen KIA crashes into car in Old Brooklyn

The 21-year-old was killed on impact, and her friend driving suffered a traumatic brain injury and lost an eye. The friend was unable to attend Tuesday’s hearing because of her ongoing recovery from the crash.

“My incredible sister, who had her whole life ahead of her, [was] taken by boys who call themselves ‘Kia Boys’ – running around our neighborhoods, causing trouble, causing harm to our communities and now causing death to my sister and badly injuring her friend,” Calderon said.

Larkin was driving the stolen Kia. Surveillance video showed the car reaching 88mph on Pearl Road before colliding with the other vehicle at State Road.

“You caused this. You caused their pain. You caused the death of another human being, you interrupted whatever life that person was supposed to have. That’s a heavy burden you’re going to have to carry,” Judge Russo told Larkin from the bench.

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Reyes’ family begged for a sentence long enough to teach a lesson. Larkin’s defense attorney asked the judge to consider his client’s age and troubled home life.

Reyes was the second person killed in a crash with a stolen Kia in less than a month. The judge noted the trend of young people stealing cars plaguing Northeast Ohio.

“I hear a lot of people talking to me of – ‘Oh, the person is 17, the person is 16.’ But you knew exactly what you were doing,” Russo told Larkin. “Everybody in this room knows about the terror that’s going on in this community from people who use their age as some kind of shield for committing criminal acts.”

When Larkin’s case was bound over from juvenile court to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, he was facing nearly a dozen charges, including murder.

He accepted a plea deal to reduce the charges to one count each of felonious assault and vehicular homicide. Before sentencing, he briefly apologized to the Reyes family and told them he accepted full responsibility for his actions.

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The judge ordered two consecutive eight-year sentences for each charge and told him he would lose his driver’s license indefinitely.

Reyes’ family said they were satisfied with the sentence and hoped it would prevent other families from experiencing their grief.

“The truth is there are many more kids like you in the streets,” Calderon told Larkin in court. “And if we continue letting them get away with horrific crimes, how can our communities get any better?”

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Ohio Supreme Court makes ruling in murder of Cleveland Firefighter Johnny Tetrick

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Ohio Supreme Court makes ruling in murder of Cleveland Firefighter Johnny Tetrick


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Ohio Supreme Court made a ruling Friday in connection with the murder conviction of the driver that killed Cleveland Firefighter Johnny Tetrick.

According to the Ohio Supreme Court, the trial court had sufficient evidence to convict Leander Bissell of felony murder for speeding through an accident scene.

Cleveland Firefighter Tetrick, 51, was killed on Nov. 19, 2022.

Bissell struck Firefighter Tetrick on I-90 East near Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and then fled the scene. Bissell was arrested later that evening.

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Firefighter Tetrick was assisting with a rollover crash, when he was struck. He was pronounced dead at University Hospitals.

In July 2023, Bissell had a bench trial in front of Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Judge Timothy McCormick and was found guilty on all charges, including, murder.

In August 2023, Bissell was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 16 years.

Leander Bissell sentencing on Aug. 15, 2023

In November 2024, the Eighth District Court of Appeals overturned the murder conviction, finding the State failed to prove that Bissell acted “knowingly.”

The court of appeals found Bissell guilty of involuntary manslaughter, which would impose a sentence of only up to 11 years.

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Leander Bissell
Leander Bissell(Source: Cuyahoga County Jail)

The state then appealed that decision to the Ohio Supreme Court.

“This is a victory for Firefighter Tetrick’s family and Ohio’s first responders. Firefighter Tetrick died while serving the public after Leander Bissell sped through a clearly marked accident scene, traversed the berm striking Tetrick, and fled. As the Ohio Supreme Court states, ‘The Eighth District’s reasoning is wrong.’ Thankfully, their decision today corrected that wrong,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley.

Cleveland Firefighter Johnny Tetrick
Cleveland Firefighter Johnny Tetrick(Source: City of Cleveland)

Thousands of people attended Firefighter Tetrick’s funeral on Nov. 26, 2022 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.



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ANN S. ASHER Obituary May 28, 2026 – Ripepi Funeral Home

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ANN S. ASHER Obituary May 28, 2026 – Ripepi Funeral Home


Ann S. Asher (nee Shaia), age 88, of Orange Village, OH, passed away peacefully in her home on May 28, 2026. Cherished wife of Tony Asher for 65 years; loving and devoted mother of Michelle Asher (Steve Timlin), Edward Asher (Rebecca), Suzanne Broadbent (Daniel), T.J. Asher (Cindy), and Jamey Asher (Wendy); dearest grandmother (Sittee) of Anthony Asher, Riley Asher (Richard Markiewicz), Eddie Asher (Chi), Taylor Lindquist (Ryan), Shelby Broadbent, Noah Broadbent, Zack Asher, Madison Woods (Dave), Tony A. Asher, Michael Asher, Ralph Asher, and Anna Rose Asher; great-grandmother of River, Jasper and Eliza Markiewicz; daughter of the late Thomas and Mary Shaia; sister of Dr. Fred Shaia (Rose), Victor Shaia (Cheryl), and Diane Fistek (Tom); beloved aunt, great-aunt and dear friend of many. Ann was a longtime member of The Immaculate Conception Sodality and the Lebanese Syrian Junior Women’s League.

Known as Mom, Sittee, Aunt Ann, and my Annie, her family was her world—and she was the heart of theirs. She was a faithful parishioner of St. Maron Church and never missed a weekly service. She attended all of her grandkids’ games, performances, and school events, always there with a smile and unwavering love and support. A good day for Ann was being with her husband, family, and friends. Her presence was a constant source of warmth and encouragement, and her absence will be deeply felt. She will remain in our hearts forever.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Maron Church, 7800 Brookside Rd., Independence, OH 44131.

Mass of Christian Burial at St. Maron Church, 1245 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 11 am. Please meet at the church. Interment private. Family and friends received at The Ripepi Funeral Home, 5762 Pearl Rd (at Snow Rd.) on Sunday, May 31, 2026 from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Prayers of Incense at 5 p.m.

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FBI Cleveland Focuses on Missing Northern Ohio Children During Outreach Event

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FBI Cleveland Focuses on Missing Northern Ohio Children During Outreach Event


Members of the community are invited to learn about child safety

[Cleveland, OH]  FBI Cleveland, together with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, the Cleveland Division of Police, Bellefaire JCB, and the Canopy Child Advocacy Center, will staff a community table to spread awareness of missing children in our area, and share child safety information with the community.

Who                      FBI Cleveland, Law Enforcement and Community Partners 

What                     National Missing Children’s Day

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When                    Thursday, May 28, 2026

Where                  Westown Square (10820 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland)

Time                     3:00pm – 5:00pm

While National Missing Children’s Day was May 25, the FBI wants to help the public understand that every day, children either go missing or remain missing and someone either knows something about a disappearance or knows of someone who has information to bring that child home. It is important to know that the FBI will look at all tips and leads and people who submit information can do so anonymously.

FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Joshua DelManzo

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“When the FBI receives a call that a child has gone missing, we know the clock is ticking. Our mission is to identify, locate, and recover the child victim. That is why our community, business, and law enforcement partnerships are a vital component to the work we do.  Of those, the partnership with the community is paramount in helping us locate missing children. Somebody knows something, and it is important to step-up and share information; more so, know that one’s identity can remain anonymous when sharing tips or leads, no matter how old the information is or how insignificant you think your information might be.”

 

During the event, the FBI and its partners will highlight posters of the many children who are still missing and provide important safety information for parents, guardians, and caregivers to keep children safe. The FBI Evidence Response Team truck will be on site to show some of the tools used in aiding a child recovery and law enforcement partners will have child safe kits and activity books to share. 

Many don’t realize that a child can be “missing” when the child has run away, is lost, or otherwise abducted– not only by a stranger, but also by a family member, for example, a non-custodial parent or in some cases, a family member who poses an extreme risk to the child, such as a registered sex offender.

How the FBI is involved
The FBI was given jurisdiction under the “Lindbergh Law” in 1932 to immediately  investigate any reported mysterious disappearance or kidnapping involving a child of “tender age”—usually 12 or younger. However, the FBI goes one step further:

• When any child is missing under the age of 18, the FBI can become involved as an assisting agency to the local police department.

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•  There does not have to be a ransom demand

• The child does NOT have to cross the state lines or be missing for 24 hours.
Research indicates the quicker the reporting of the mysterious disappearance or abduction the more likely the successful outcome in returning the child unharmed.

To report a missing child: 
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children                      1-800-THE LOST
FBI                                                                                                                         1-800-CALL FBI(1-800-225-5324)



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