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Ohio Woman Found Guilty of 2009 Antifreeze Murder, Sentenced to 15 Years to Life

7/31/2015

(ASHTABULA, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Ashtabula County Sheriff William Johnson announced today the conviction of an Ohio woman for the poisoning death of her husband in 2009.

Following a bench trial in Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court, Judge Gary Yost today found Teresa Kotomski, 55, guilty of one count of murder for the death of Raymond Kotomski, 65, who died on August 16, 2009, several days after he was found unconscious inside his Pierpont, Ohio, home.  An autopsy found that he died as a result of complications from ethylene glycol toxicity.   Ethylene glycol is most commonly found in antifreeze.

Immediately following the verdict, Judge Yost sentenced Kotomski to serve 15 years to life in prison.

The conviction follows a joint investigation by the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Prosecutors with the Attorney General's Office prosecuted the case.

"The murder of Raymond Kotomski was a horribly brutal and senseless act, and I am pleased that there is now justice for the victim and his family," said Attorney General DeWine.  "Even though this crime happened nearly six years ago, this case illustrates the fact that even the most complex cold cases can be solved."

"We are very happy with today's verdict, which is the result of a collaborative effort by local, state, and federal authorities," said Ashtabula County Sheriff's Lieutenant Terry Moisio. "Everyone involved in this case worked extremely hard, and we are grateful for the assistance of the Attorney General's Office and FBI in the investigation."

Kotomski's case was featured by the Attorney General's Office in September 2012 when Attorney General DeWine announced the creation of his office's Ohio Unsolved Homicides Initiative, which was developed to expand the public online database of Ohio's unsolved murder cases and assist local law enforcement in identifying suspects in unsolved homicides.

There are currently 1,876 cases listed in the Ohio Attorney General's Ohio Unsolved Homicides Database. Those with tips on any unsolved homicide can submit the information through the website or by calling 855-BCI-OHIO.

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Media Contacts:

Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840

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