'I told him I had a surprise for him and that was the surprise': Killer who lured 74-year-old lover out into woods and shot him in the back of the head receives fate

A 23-year-old slayer successful Ohio is headed to situation aft coaxing their 74-year-old person retired into the woods and fatally shooting him successful the backmost of the head.

Viktor Marie Vendler, who presently identifies arsenic antheral but was pistillate astatine the clip of the crime, was sentenced Monday to beingness successful situation with the anticipation of parole aft 21 years successful the decease of Leroy Johnston, tribunal records show. Vendler pleaded blameworthy to aggravated murder and gross maltreatment of a corpse. As portion of the plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed the charges of execution during kidnapping, tampering with grounds and kidnapping.

Hikers discovered Johnston's assemblage connected Sept. 30, 2023, astatine the Mill Stream Run Reservation successful Strongsville, a Cleveland suburb, erstwhile their canine ran disconnected the way and heavy into the woods, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office said. Cops arrested Vendler immoderate 8 months later.

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According to section CBS affiliate WOIO, prosecutors said Johnston and Vendler had been successful a romanticist narration successful the past. Vendler convinced Johnston to spell connected a hike connected Sept. 24, 2023, for a "surprise." But arsenic the suspect aboriginal told cops, it was for nefarious purposes — Vendler had decided to not bring a cellphone successful bid to debar being tracked.

"It sounds truthful atrocious but I told him I had a astonishment for him and that was the surprise," Vendler said successful an interrogation with detectives.

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Vendler and the unfortunate walked to a heavy wooded country of the parkland wherever Vendler changeable Johnston dead. Cops ne'er publically divulged a motive for the murder.

Before the sentencing, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge William F.B. Vodrey was peculiarly taken aback by the information that the suspect murdered an seemingly caring partner.

"Especially nether these circumstances is simply a peculiarly heinous and shocking crime," Vodrey said, per WOIO. "I'm profoundly disturbed what I've learned astir this lawsuit and a beingness ended unnecessarily, cruelly."