Leroy E. Johnston Obituary – A 22-year-old man named Viktor M. Vendler has been taken into custody by the Cleveland Metroparks Police Department for the murder of Leroy E. Johnston, a 74-year-old man. The crime took place eight months ago in a remote wooded area of the Cleveland Metroparks Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville.
Johnston was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head on September 30, 2023. The investigation identified Vendler as the suspect and revealed that he had a connection to Johnston. Vendler has been charged with aggravated murder and was arraigned in Berea Municipal Court on May 29, 2024. He is currently being held on a $1 million bond and is prohibited from entering Cleveland Metroparks property. Cleveland Metroparks Police Chief Kelly Stillman expressed pride in the work of the Detective Bureau for bringing closure to the case. The resolution of this investigation and the delivery of justice to Mr. Johnston’s family is a testament to the dedication and commitment of the detectives and officers involved.
