Lake County mother, son in court accused of stabbing neighbor 90 times

PAINESVILLE, Ohio - A 77-year-old Madison Township grandmother, who was murdered in early June, was stabbed at least 90 times, a coroner testified in court.

The mother and son accused in the murder, Zack Weimer, 22, and Danna Weimer, 52, were in court for a preliminary hearing Monday afternoon.

Their neighbor Eleanor Robertson, 77, was found dead in her home on June 13. Police said the mother and son were found on that same day in Euclid with the victim's jewelry and other personal items.

Robertson's family and friends filled one side of the Painesville courtroom. Brenda Peters was close friends with Robertson for the last seven years.

"I just wanted to get up and scream. I wanted to get up and hurt them. I really wanted to hurt them. I wanted them to know what it felt like."

Peters said the hardest part about the hearing was hearing the coroner detail how her friend died.

Dr. Lynn Smith said Robertson was found in her bedroom under three feet of clothes and a mattress, with dozens of stab and puncture wounds all over her body, a punctured lung and a deep wound to her skull.

"Just hearing the coroner, what they did to her. You know, 90 stab wounds? Mutilating her body like that? I mean for what?" asked Peters.

Three police officers also testified at the hearing, saying the mother and son used to live on Robertson's street on Canterbury Drive and were seen in the neighborhood that day.

Officers said the Weimers had the elderly woman's jewelry, a journal and a strong box with her name on it.

Throughout the hearing, Zack Weimer sat with little or no expression. Danna Weimer had her face hidden by a red folder while she clutched a rosary.

Judge Michael Cicconetti said in court that the case is weak and built on circumstantial evidence. He ruled there was enough probable cause to have the charges of aggravated burglary and murder bound over.

A grand jury will now hear the case.

Attorney's for the Weimers, who are each represented separately, said there isn't evidence connecting their clients to Robertson's murder.

Robertson's minivan still hasn't been found.