WAUSEON, OH (Toledo News Now) - Last week the jury in the Walter Zimbeck murder trial could not come to a verdict, leading to a mistrial. On Friday, prosecutors decided if they would begin the process of a retrial.
From a cold case in 2008, to being dropped in 2010, then being appealed and brought back to court, this case has already been a long, complicated trial. The mistrial last week did not stop Fulton County Prosecutor Scott Haselman from going forward and retrying Zimbeck on murder charges.
Behind closed doors at the Fulton County courthouse, Visiting Judge Sumner Walters met with the prosecuting attorney and defense attorney, to finalize if there would be a retrial in the 27-year-old murder case.
After a week of deliberation, Haselman decided to go forward with retrying Zimbeck in the 1985 murder of Lori Ann Hill.
Hill's family had passing words while leaving the courthouse.
"This is the right thing to do for Lori, absolutely. And thank you Scott Haselman," said Rachel Hill, the victim's sister.
Haselman would not elaborate on any details of the upcoming retrial.
"The trial has been reset for Sept. 17, and at this point, I have no further comment," said Haselman.
Residents of Fulton County are split on whether it is necessary to keep this long, drawn-out case going.
"If they find him not guilty he'll be punished later on. That's the way I look at it," said one woman, who does not believe the case would be a waste of money for the county if it was her child.
"If they didn't find anything the first time, why would they find anything the second time?" said one man.
With the charges of aggravated murder thrown out, Zimbeck faces one charge of murder in the 1985 death of Lori Ann Hill.
The trial is scheduled for Sept. 17 with a pretrial hearing for Sept. 11.
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Walter Zimbeck will be put on trial again for the murder of Lori Ann Hill 27 years ago.
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