Cindy's uncle David LaGrange says, "We're starting to get some of the answers that we wanted to get in this case." but it wasn't easy for the family to hear the grim details of how Cindy Sumner was killed and who police believe committed the crime.
Elhadi Robbins, 44, is a registered sex offender. He was arrested in August on an unrelated parole violation. Detective Jay Gast says, "There was a theft case. There was a failure to report case, relative to his status as a sexual offender."
Court documents state he's been convicted of domestic violence, assault, and sexually-related charges. Now, Robbins faces a murder charge in the death of Sumner. Detectives say Sumner and the suspect were friends. She went missing in August.
Detectives interviewed more than 70 family and friends. That's when they say Robbins' name came up. "His name surfaced early on with most of these investigations as somebody that was involved, known to be with the victim," says Det. Gast.
Gast says Robbins lived at the Cherry Street Mission, but later moved to the vacant warehouse on Elm Street where Cindy's body was found. Police seized a pair of tennis shoes from Robbins. Detectives say the shoes matched a print found near Sumner's body.
Homeless people who spent time in and around the building told detectives they had seen Robbins at the warehouse wearing the tennis shoes. "Everything we can determine at this point is that she was killed at the warehouse," says Gast. "Based upon the forensic side of it, it does not appear she drowned. We think she was killed prior to being placed in the water."
Robbins will be transported to Toledo and arraigned on February 25.
Sumner had muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy. At first, her mother believed Cindy would be found alive. Neighbors and family members held several vigils in hope that someone would come forward with information.
Cindy's body was found Sept. 17 partially submerged in water in the basment of a vacant warehouse on Elm Street. The coroner's office used dental records to identify the body.
A campaign by local residents called for the boarding up of the warehouse where her body was found. The city ended up putting metal sheets over windows and closing off doors in late November.
TIMELINE
- August 6, 2009-- Reported Missing
- September 17, 2009-- Body discovered, 1015 Elm Street
- September 25, 2009-- Building where body discovered boarded up
- February 2, 2009-- Indictment issued
