On this very inhospitable morning -- Jackson Township police are looking for a missing child who reportedly wandered away from her home. Five year old Ashley Zhao was last seen at a local business in the 49-hundred block of Portage Street NW. She's wearing a purple winter coat with gray leggings.

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(North Canton PD) The Jackson Township Police Department is investigating the disappearance of a five (5) year old female. The child was last seen in the 4900 block of Portage Street, NW, Jackson Township. It is believed she wandered out a back door of a business with unknown direction of travel. The child's name is Ashley Zhao, 5 years old, approximately 4" tall, 35-40 lbs, black hair, and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a purple winter coat and gray leggings. If you have any information please contact the Jackson Township Police Department at 330-834-3960 or the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 330-834-3967.

A Norton woman is facing felony charges for allegedly boosting her own bank account with more than $44,000 from an elderly relative. Summit County Sheriff's deputies investigated the case of an 85-year old woman who had turned over access to her bank account to 37-year old Shannon Shook of Norton. Shook was charged with taking the money for her own personal use and charged with Theft from the Elderly and booked into the Summit County Jail.

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(Summit Sheriff) In December of 2016, the Summit County Sheriff's Office received information regarding an 85 year old female that had allegedly been financially exploited by a family member. It was alleged that the suspect had access to the victim's bank account and had been utilizing the victim's funds for her own personal gain since July of 2016.

An investigation was initiated by the Sheriff's Office. The investigation revealed that Shannon M. Shook had been withdrawing funds from the victim's bank account for her own personal use. To date, investigators estimate
that the suspect has stolen over $44,000 from the victim. 

On January 8, 2017, Shannon M. Shook, age 37 of Norton was arrested and charged with Theft from the Elderly (F-2). She was booked into the Summit County Jail.

An early morning Sunday hit-skip has Summit County deputies asking for help finding the driver of what's believed to be a Subaru Forrester who hit a man walking on South Main Street in Coventry Township.

The incident occured around 3:30 a.m. near the intersection of North Turkeyfoot Road; the victim suffered life-threatening injuries and was not carrying identification with him at the time he was hit. The unidentified man was taken to Akron General Hospital and police are also asking for help identifying the man as well as the driver of the hit-ski.

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(Summit Sheriff) On Sunday January 8, 2017, at approximately 3:30 a.m., the Summit County Sheriff's Office responded to a call that a pedestrian had been hit by a vehicle in the southbound lanes of South Main Street near North Turkeyfoot Road in Coventry Township. The Summit Metro Crash Response Team is currently investigating the crash.

The victim is described as a white male and he had no identification with him at the time of the crash. He was transported to Akron General Hospital with life threatening injuries. The vehicle involved is believed to be a 2010-2013 Subaru Forrester.

Anyone with any information regarding this crash, including the identity of the driver of the vehicle or the identity of the victim is asked to contact Sergeant Lee Hoskins at the Summit County Sheriff's Office at 330-643-2181.

Two are dead, another person wounded after a shooting in Ravenna in the early morning hours. Ravenna PD reports the two dead were found inside an apartment at 731 Woodgate Boulevard, a third with what was described as "non-life threatening" gunshot wounds. No names have been released; one person is in custody for questioning and other potential witnesses are being sought. Portage County Deputies, Ohio BCI and the Coroner's Office are assisting.

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(Ravenna PD) At 4:35 AM today Ravenna Police Department officers responded to the apartment building at 731 Woodgate Blvd in Ravenna for a reported shooting.

When officers arrived on scene two persons were found deceased from gunshot wounds. A third person was injured, suffering non-life threatening gunshot wounds. 

Early information learned in this investigation indicates an argument between several persons inside one of the apartments at 731 Woodgate Blvd led to weapons being fired. The names of those involved are not released due to notification of next of kin.

Ravenna PD has one person detained and is continuing to locate and interview additional witnesses. Portage County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene to assist Ravenna PD officers. Ohio BCI and the Portage County Coroner's Office are assisting with this investigation as well. 

One of the pair wanted for stealing a woman's purse while she was in Green's Queen of Heaven Church receiving communion is behind bars. 53-year old Raymond Jarvis was booked into the county jail in Ukiah, California on charges of receiving stolen property, impersonating another person and forging a vehicle registration.

Police say Jarvis and Michelle Wells, both of Lake Township, teamed up to steal the 79-year old woman's purse, then used her credit cards for a shopping spree on December 8th.

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(Ukiah, California Daily Journal) RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY: Raymond Barry Jarvis, 53, of Akron, Ohio, was booked at county jail on Dec. 20 on suspicion of receiving stolen property, impersonating another person, and forging or altering a vehicle registration. He was arrested by the Sheriff's Office.

Ronald Phillips gets no mercy -- but he does get another month on Death Row. Governor Kasich reschedule the Akron killer's execution date after an indefinite stay from a federal court on Ohio's next three scheduled executions, including Phillips.

Kasich moved the date to February 15th but any execution would be determined by court appeals. Kasich agreed with the Ohio Parole Board against clemency for Phillips, who raped and killed his then-girlfriend's three old daughter in 1993.

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(Governor John Kasich) In response to a federal court order issued on Monday which indefinitely stayed three executions scheduled in 2017, today Governor John R. Kasich issued short delays for the scheduled executions of the first two inmates – Ronald Phillips and Raymond Tibbetts. Phillips was convicted in 1993 in Summit County for the rape and murder of a three-year-old girl, and Tibbetts was convicted in 1998 in Hamilton County for the murder of his wife and the couple's 67-year-old landlord. Additionally, Kasich denied Phillips' request for clemency.

"The State disagrees with the federal court's indefinite stay and has already filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Given the uncertainty created by the Court's order, however, this brief delay should provide the Court time to resolve any pending legal issues," said Emmalee Kalmbach, the governor's press secretary.

The actions announced today will delay Phillips' scheduled January 12 execution to February 15, 2017, and Tibbetts' from February 15 to April 12, 2017.

Agreeing with the Ohio Parole Board in denying clemency to Phillips, Gov. Kasich stated: "Given the extremely brutal nature of the offense committed against an innocent three-year-old child, I agree with the Ohio Parole Board's recommendation that clemency is not warranted in this case."

A very well-known figure in Akron's art and education circles is leaving one job for an "unspecified" change of pace. Weathervane Theater's Lisa Mansfield -- who also serves on Akron's school board -- is leaving the theater the end of the month. Mansfield tells WAKR she will be stepping down to take a position as Community Outreach Specialist with incoming Summit County Probate Judge Elinor Marsh Stormer. She says she will continue with her term on the Akron Public School Board through 2017. Mansfield's last day with Weathervane is effective Saturday, December 31st.

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(Weathervane Playhouse) After successfully co-leading Weathervane Playhouse for the past year and a half and serving at the Playhouse for more than 11 years, Lisa Mansfield is stepping down as Managing Director as of December 31, 2016.During her time at Weathervane, Mansfield worked in several capacitates including Patron Services Manager, Group Sales, Education Programs Coordinator, and then her current role as Managing Director. Mansfield served as Co-director with Artistic Director Melanie Pepe since 2015.

“Lisa has brought an energy and grace to Weathervane that has been very visible and much appreciated,” said Debbie Davis, President of the Board of Trustees. “Her community outreach activities have been invaluable. Her warmth and affability are irreplaceable. She promises that she will not be a stranger to Weathervane.”Under Mansfield’s leadership, the Playhouse has seen growth in subscriptions, ticket sales, and donations. She is proud of her efforts in creating strong community partnerships and tie-ins with productions such as involving the Red Cross for Dracula, hair donations for Wigs for Kids during Hair, and a canned food drive with the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank during A Christmas Carol.

“A new opportunity has been presented for me, and I feel called to accept the challenge. I hope to remain a champion for improving the lives of those in our community, just as I have been called to do in my various roles with Weathervane,” said Mansfield. Melanie Pepe will remain at the helm as Artistic Director and in management of the current and interim staff during the search for a new Managing Director. Mansfield will be beginning her role as Community Outreach Specialist for Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer in Summit County Probate Court early next year.

North Canton police are investigating what appears to be two dead in a home on Harmon Street -- what could be a murder-suicide. Police found a 49-year old man dead inside the house in the 500 block of Harmon Street SW and about an hour later another man, 18-years old, at a nearby park off Hillcrest Avenue SW from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

North Canton schools have closed the nearby middle school because of it but all other schools are open today.

The school district noted on it's Facebook page "The North Canton Middle School will be CLOSED TODAY (12/19/16) due to police activity and crime scene in the area. There are street closures in the area but there is no involvement concerning the middle school. All other buildings and programs in the district will be open today."

Officials were quick to say they don't believe the shootings had anything to do with the nearby middle school, which is closed strictly because of the investigation. Police were called to the home around 1:30 this morning after reports of gunshots heard by neighbors.

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(North Canton PD) On Monday, December 19, 2016 at approximately 1:30 am the North Canton Police Department received a call from a resident in the 500 block of Harmon St. SW. Police and North Canton Fire Department medics responded to the residence for an unresponsive 49 year old male who was found to have suffered several gunshot wounds.

Police officers conducted an immediate search of the home and surrounding area for another person possibly involved with the incident in the residence. At approximately 2:50 am officers found a second person, an 18 year old male, outside a City park restroom in the 300 block of Hillcrest Ave. SW. That person appeared to have suffered from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Investigator Rick Walters from Stark County Coroner Dr. Murthy’s Office and Crime Scene Investigators form the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCI&I) responded to assist with the investigation of the two crime scenes. North Canton City School Superintendent’s Office was contacted with the request to cancel only classes at the North Canton Middle School due to the proximity of the nearby crime scene and the amount of time it will take to keep the area secured from the public.

No names of the victims are being released at this time in order to make family notifications of the deaths. 

Barberton police making an arrest for the hit-skip death of 27-year old Scott Hollifield.

38-year old Carl Sapper of Barberton is charged with felonies related to the hit-skip, but more charges could be added. Hollified was hit at Van Buren and Lincoln November 30th; he suffered massive head injuries and died a week later.

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(Barberton PD) On November 25th, 2016, Scott Hollifield was struck by a vehicle as he was walking on North Van Buren Avenue at Lincoln Avenue. Hollifield later died from the injuries that he sustained from being hit. The vehicle that struck him did not stop after the accident and fled the scene.

The investigation by Barberton Police Department Detectives has resulted in the arrest of Carl E. Sapper, age 38 of E. Cassell Avenue in Barberton for the hit skip accident that resulted in the death of Scott Hollifield.

Carl Sapper has been charged with a Third Degree Felony for failing to stop after an accident (hit-skip). Sapper will be arraigned in the Barberton Municipal Court on 12-15-16.

The investigation has been aided by members of the Summit Metro Crash Team and the Ohio Highway State Patrol. Barberton Police Department Detectives are continuing their investigation.