Detectives have 'strong suspect' in 2009 antifreeze homicide of Ashtabula County man

RICHFIELD, Ohio - Detectives said they have a suspect and are moving towards an indictment in the 2009 murder of an Ashtabula County man who died from antifreeze poisoning.

"I don't know if I personally like the term person of interest, but I like the term strong suspect," said Lt. Terry Moisio from the Ashtabula Sheriff's Department.

The death of Raymond Kotomski, 65, was initially ruled undetermined, but the case is now being treated as a homicide. Investigators said new evidence was discovered.

According to AG's website, Kotomski was found Aug. 13, 2009 on the floor of his Pierpont home, unconscious, due to ethylene glycol (antifreeze) poisoning. He died at a hospital three days later.

"We believe someone intentionally poisoned Mr. Kotomski," Moisio said. "We are hopeful that someone in the community will come forward with the information that could help us solve this case."

At the time of Kotomski's death, a family member told investigators that she found him unresponsive after noticing he had not brought in his newspaper. The woman told officers he had been sick the previous day.

Kotomski's daughter, Monica Mamula, said her father was a retired police and corrections officer, and she continues to wait for justice.

"We've just been through hell. It's been hell... I want them to pay for what they've done," Mamula said.

Kotomski's grandson, Nikkolas Mamula, couldn't cold hold back the tears as he described the close relationship he had with grandfather.

"I used to beg my mom and dad to stay over his house every weekend. It was like the one thing I wanted to do all the time," Nikkolas said.

NewsChannel5 is not naming the suspect because charges have not been filed, but Dennis Sweet, a special agent supervisor with the Ohio Attorney General's Office, implied an arrest could be coming.

"We're confident we know who committed this crime," Sweet said.

Attorney General Mike DeWine is highlighting several unsolved homicides across the state to draw attention to a central cold case database on his website, where people can submit tips.

DeWine said there are more than 5,000 unsolved homicides in Ohio.

He wants all of those cases featured on the AG's website.

Law enforcement agencies have submitted 166 unsolved murders for the webpage so far.

Those with tips can also the BCI tip line at  1-855-BCI-OHIO.