Summit County, Ohio — Jury proceedings are set to commence Monday for Elias Gudino, a man facing multiple charges including aggravated murder and kidnapping involving four victims, three of whom were fatally shot. The trial will be overseen by Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands.
Gudino, whose legal entanglements stem from a series of grisly incidents, has been formally charged with six counts of aggravated murder, two counts of attempted aggravated murder, three counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, four counts of kidnapping, one count of tampering with evidence, and one count of possessing weapons under disability.
Authorities recount a horrifying ordeal where the victims, initially abducted from another county, were brought to Summit County, where they were restrained and shot in the head. The incidents culminated in the discovery of three bodies on March 10, 2023.
The victims identified by the Summit County Medical Examiner include Inmer Reyes, 25, and Victor Varela-Rodriguez, 31, both found near Cordova Avenue and Redbush Road in Akron. Additionally, the body of Domingo Castillo-Reyes, 35, was located in Copley on Wright Road.
Miraculously, a fourth victim survived the ordeal. Although shot at, he evaded further harm by playing dead. He was later found walking along Collier Road. His limited English did not prevent him from seeking help, eventually telling police he had been abandoned and was attempting to return to Youngstown.
Following his discovery, local police transported him to the Haven of Rest Shelter in Akron. His crucial cooperation with authorities began when he was provided a translator from a federal law enforcement agency, recounting details of the traumatic events he experienced.
As part of the investigation, Copley police detectives transported the surviving victim around the Copley and Akron areas in an attempt to locate the house where the kidnapping occurred. A significant breakthrough occurred at a gas station on Copley Road, where the survivor recognized Gudino.
Gudino was subsequently taken into police custody voluntarily for further questioning. Currently, he remains detained without bond at the Summit County Jail, awaiting the legal proceedings that could provide a measure of justice for the violent acts committed.
This case highlights the alarming realities of violent crimes and the importance of swift and thorough law enforcement response to protect public safety and bring perpetrators to justice. As the community awaits the trial’s outcome, the resilience of the surviving victim and the tireless work of local law enforcement agencies underline the ongoing battle against crime in the region.