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Local News

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Corbin admitted murder, brother testifies
By JORDAN CRAVENS

Staff writer

BOWLING GREEN -- While drunk and upset, Randy Corbin confessed he strangled his girlfriend and then dumped her body, Corbin's brother told a Wood County jury Wednesday.

Wood County prosecutors called Frank Corbin to the stand to testify against his brother, Randy Corbin, who has been indicted for the October 2007 murder of Karen Coldwell, 51, of North Baltimore.

"He just told me that he didn't mean to," Frank Corbin said in a soft voice, struggling to say the words. "He was upset and he said the two got in a fight and he choked her."

Fighting was common between the couple, numerous witnesses have testified, but Randy Corbin became particularly angered after Coldwell told him to move out of her North Baltimore house, Frank Corbin testified.

The Corbin brothers did not make eye contact during the testimony. Randy Corbin did not show any visible reaction when his brother told jurors about the alleged confession.

The confession took place on Oct. 17, 2007, behind a shed in Nye's Trailer Park on North Countyline Street in Fostoria, Frank Corbin testified.

Frank Corbin later drew a map for investigators which led them to Coldwell's body. Coldwell was found underneath a comforter on property along Hall Road in Wood County.

After hearing the confession, "I told him to turn himself in," Frank Corbin testified. His brother responded, "I don't think I can do life" in prison, Frank Corbin said.

Defense attorney David Klucas questioned how Frank Corbin knew the whereabouts of Coldwell's body.

"If you think about it, there are only two ways of knowing where the body is," Klucas said. "One is if somebody told you, and the other was if you knew where the body was yourself."

Klucas also criticized Frank Corbin for withholding information from authorities when they first interviewed him. Klucas said it was not until his second interview with investigators that Frank Corbin told them where to find Coldwell's body.

"Did you help load and unload Karen's body?" Wood County Assistant Prosecutor Gwen Howe-Gebers asked Frank Corbin.

"No, I had nothing to do with it," Frank Corbin replied.

Prosecutors called more than a dozen witnesses to the stand on Wednesday.

Two of the state's witnesses were store clerks from a Marathon gas station in North Baltimore, who said they saw the couple fighting while purchasing beer and cigarettes the night of Oct. 15. This was the last time friends and family members heard from Coldwell, according to testimony.

One clerk, Lindsay Patrick, said she overheard a conversation Corbin was having with her co-worker while she rang him up at the register.

"He said this would be the last time we saw Karen," Patrick testified.

Klucas questioned why Patrick had not told police what she had overheard, in a written statement she filled out Oct. 24, 2007, roughly a week after Corbin was arrested for Coldwell's death.

"Knowing all of that, you still didn't put that in your statement," Klucas said.

The trial is scheduled to resume today at 8:45 a.m.

Cravens: 419-427-8422, Send an e-mail to Jordan Cravens


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7 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
Tesla Corbin (Randy's daughter) wrote:
Randy Corbin
“ my father Randy Gene Corbin, is NOT a waste of human flesh and is NOT scum of anything. For teresa and lori.....I honestly feel sorry for the both of you. Just because of the fact that both of you ladies did not have the chance to kno my father. He would never hurt anyone in a way such as murder. I also understand the fact that he had a past history.....DOESN'T EVERYONE?? I know my dad, he wasn't always credible....but just for everyones information, he is an amazing father that just wants the best. & in regards to his trial it was compleatly and utterly unjust. His case was well known in Wood county, and Ms. caldwell and my dad were two very well known people in that area. I mean, cmon' people....Deb Mellinger cut her finger and placed her blood on a wall in Karen's house which was concidered a crime scene. Shouldn't she have been investagated?? That brings me to my next point....NO one else was investagated in this murder besides him. It could have been anyone...but all WOOD COUNTY wanted was a conviction,my dad was convicted before he even had a chance. That's not justice. Like I said before I'm sorry for Karen's family and friends on there loss. At the same time everyone needs to realize that my dad has family and friends that love and care about him. Justice will be served for my dad one day soon. His trial was unjust and unfair, they should have called a mistrial right then, but thats WOOD COUNTY for you...they can make there own rules!!! My dad tells me to keep my head up and chest out and to walk with pride. he is honestly the STONGEST person i know. and for those of you who think you know about everything thats happened with this case, i suggest you should do some research!!! ”
Saturday, April 17, 2010 1:11:17 PM
corbin wrote:
randy corbin
“ regards to the comments that were made against randy corbin,do u even know him?and no one is saying he is a saint.do you even know the brother that made the statement? no.....not many do! ”
Saturday, April 17, 2010 12:27:15 PM
Teresa wrote:
Randy the Saint.....
“ I completely agree with Lori. I knew Karen a long time ago and no she did not make the greatest choices in men. Regardless, she did not deserve to die and her kids and family do not deserve to be without her. Randy Corbin is a scum of the earth waste of flesh. For those of you that thought you knew him, he sure pulled one over on you didn't he!! Justice has been served so it's time to let Karen rest in peace once and for all. ”
Monday, April 05, 2010 10:11:15 AM
Lori wrote:
Randy the saint....yeah riiiiiight
“ Let's see...history of violence, his own brother testifies against him...guilty. Get over it. If any "mistakes" were made in the trial, I'm sure the appeals court will pick up on it. That's more of a chance than Ms Coldwell got. As far as some of you trying to paint this guy as a decent sort....sorry, not buying it for a minute. ”
Sunday, April 04, 2010 7:58:08 PM
concerned2 wrote:
Randy Corbin
“ I didnt get the chance to meet Karen Coldwell, but i did know Randy Corbin, and i have for twenty-six years. I do not belive he could have commited murder, he is a very kind, and non violent man. As far as his trial goes i was there for him everyday. And i would have to say the trial was absolutely unfair. First of all a few of the witneses stories were proven to have many inconsistancys. Absolutly no incrimidating DNA evidence, no placement at the murder scene or where the body was retrieved. Also plenty of cases where one witnes or another had tamperd with either the crime scene or what prosicution would of conciderd evidence. Last but not least the jury, I feel this case was well known through Wood County, wich concist of mostly small towns, and its hard to believe that, all twelve jurors never seen or spoke of this case, wich i believe in that case and everything i just listed should have led to a mis trial. What do u think? I believe this case needed justice, But where is justice for Randy Corbin. ”
Saturday, April 03, 2010 10:19:19 PM
concerned wrote:
randy corbin
“ i agree with the last comment that was posted,this case needs to be re-looked at with no useable d.n.a. and to many people making up there own stories and then adding on ,why would someone tell a clerk something like that,he said,she said!sounds to me like they just wanted a conviction regardless who it was.again this case needs to be checked out theres alot of good lawyers out there that are probably saying that also!i say get the facts,get the truth,get this back into court,don't put this on this on a shelve and leave it,hear say convicts people now,maybe these comments may help him get a fair trial!! ”
Saturday, April 03, 2010 4:34:15 PM
lulu maurice wrote:
the store clerk
“ North Baltimore is to small of a town and to much gossip Karen was well known in that area and I would have to say the store clerk is a liar for one waiting to even say she heard that and for 2 Mr. Corbin is not going to tell a stranger in a store something like that. I have known the both of them a long time and yes alot of fighting but Randy is not going to make a comment like that and then do something like that. My opinion is the state could not make there case strong enuff and the witnesses are making up stories. It does not make no sence to me that all the hands in this case and no one else is involved I do not buy that. There is more to this than what is being said and I think the wood county prosacuters know it. They never even concidered any one else for this crime and I believe they did a "shitty job" investigating ”
Thursday, March 04, 2010 8:50:45 PM
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News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

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With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

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The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

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Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

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Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.