BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Boardman police indicate a key to finding a suspect in the Jan. 6 murder of a 30-year-old Struthers man, Michael Kosarich, could be linked to the driver of a dark-colored sedan that was captured by security cameras speeding along Market St. about the time a resident of Indianola Rd. made a 9-1-1 calling saying he heard seven gunshots shortly before 2:30 a.m., and saw a car with an open door in the parking lot of Family Video, at Indianola Rd. and Market St.
      First law enforcement officer to get to the parking lot was Ptl. Erin Higgins, who located a Ford Fusion with its lights on. Officer Higgins said there were “multiple” bullet holes in the driver’s side back door and the driver’s front window, and “No movement from the driver.” The driver, later identified as Kosarich, was sitting in the driver’s seat, leaning to the middle console with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds.
      Lanes LifeTrans and Boardman Fire Department EMS rendered aid to Kasorich and he was taken to Mercy Health/Youngstown where he was pronounced dead 3:08 a.m.
      Police learned that Kosarich had been at the Nimrod (The Rod) Bar, 3726 Loveland Rd., Youngstown, Oh., before he was found in the car.
      In late Dec., 2023, Kosarich was lodged into the Mahoning County Jail on a fugitive from justice warrant, three law enforcement officers confirmed. When the agency from western Pennsylvania that had issued the warrant did not seek extradition, Kosarich was released from jail on New Year’s Eve.
      According to Butler County, Pa. court records, Kosarich was scheduled to appear in court on a ‘PLA’ hearing in Mar. 2024 on an issue related to the mother of his 1-year-old daughter.
      Since his death, two ‘Go Fund Me’ accounts have been established.
      One, said to be organized by Brittany Milone, was begun “to help Michael’s mom and family with funeral expenses, etc.
      “Michael lost his life unexpectedly and tragically,” Milone said.
      A second, is said to be organized by Laura Lindgren and Krystal Shoaf.
      Laura says she made the Go Fund Me page…“for one of my closest friends, Krystal, “due to a horrific act of gun violence that took the life of her partner, Mike, and father of her youngest daughter…and main father figure to her older children…
      “The money raised would go to helping her be able to focus on her children and be able to grieve without the extra worry of paying for bills and groceries.
      “Right before we lost Mike, her new car was hit by a deer and he was going to do those repairs on his own. Now she will need some help for that as well.”
      Laura’s post says the little girl “still needs clothing and diapers, all the things a baby needs.”
      Another post on the site, from Krystal, says “Just so people know, this Go Fund Me is to help my family….Mike left me with a mountain of debt and was supposed to fix my car. So everything is on me.”
      Anyone with any information, especially anyone who might have seen the dark-colored car or captured it on a ring doorbell or security camera in the early morning hours of Jan. 6 can contact Det. Greg Stepuk (330-726-4144 or 330-729-2085) at the Boardman Police Department.