WIRT MURDER CASE GOES TO TRIAL

(12/04/2006)

Russell Ray Eastham - Sylvia L. Fittro The trial of a Wirt County man charged with the shooting deaths of two residents in April 2005 is scheduled to begin today in Wood County Circuit Court. Roger Dean Flinn (left) 45, of Elizabeth, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of Russell Ray Eastham and his girlfriend Sylvia L. Fittro in their home along State Rt. 14. The case, having been delayed to obtain forensic evidence, was moved to Wood County after a request by the defense for a change of venue. Eastham's body was discovered in a ditch by an early morning motorist, with a trail of blood leading to a mobile home where Sylvia Fittro was found dead. Fittro's 10-month-old infant was in the home, unharmed. Flinn's nephew, Daniel Allen Neptune of Elizabeth, testified in magistrate court that he sold his uncle a handgun for $50 the night Eastham and Fittro were killed. That gun reportedly was the murder weapon. Neptune has pled guilty to a charge of grand larceny. Neptune said both he and Flinn were drinking that night when they went to the home of Eastham and Fittro, looking for beer. Records say Flinn had problems in his relationship with Eastham, and forced his way into the residence shooting. Neptune has agreed to testify for the prosecution against Flinn.

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