Mother of 2006 Shaker Heights murder victim recalls her wait for justice as suspect is indicted

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio - A Cuyahoga Grand Jury made an indictment in a 5-year-old homicide. The victim's mother recalls how hard waiting for justice has been.

Amy Perry recalled the day police told her that her 26-year-old son, Mitchell Perry, had been brutally murdered and they didn't know who was responsible for it.

"They knocked on my door and told me that my son was the victim of a homicide, I mean nobody can even imagine that," she said.

Perry has suffered from congestive heart failure since a 2006. She said she relied on her son to cope with the disease. To her, Mitchell was the glue that held her family together.

"Not only did he kill my son, but he destroyed each and every one of us. We loved him. He was just a wonderful spirit," said Amy Perry.
 
Shaker Heights police arrested 41-year-old Steven Rackley, of Garfield Heights, for the fatal stabbing death. On Wednesday, a Cuyahoga grand jury returned an indictment against Rackley charging him with aggravated murder, kidnapping, aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence.

"It's been five years, seven months, some odd days that we've been waiting for him to be picked up or found," Amy Perry said.

Clarence Rogers, 81, said he's been waiting for this day for the victim's family. He said he couldn't believe it when police appeared at his door and told him there was a body in his back yard.

"I saw indeed there was a body there. It appeared to have been a male body and was perhaps half clad with clothing somewhat undressed," he said. To Rogers, it was one of the saddest scenes he'd ever seen.

"Almost more than sad, you know, to see a young man, a young person, seemingly at such an early age passed away. I didn't know anything about his family. Just to see someone in that condition it was almost more than sad to me," he said.

Perry's alleged murderer had dragged his body to Rogers' back yard and left him there.

"I guess my biggest emotional fear at that time was who would invade my privacy to this extent and I'm indoors and this had happened outside," said Rogers.

Meanwhile, Amy Perry said Rackley's arrest has only given her a sense of relief. She won't have full closure until justice is served.

"We want him to be locked up for a long time," she said.