911 tape, LaRosa's Niles police history

  âMother always justifies her sonás actions instead of making him take responsibility,ã Niles police officer Mike Biddlestone wrote in a report last year regarding 15-year-old Jacob LaRosa, charged with aggravated murder in the death of 94-year-old Marie Belcastro.

By RENEE FOX

Tribune Chronicle

NILES ä Police here on Thursday released reports that indicate the 15-year-old boy accused of beating an elderly woman to death Tuesday has had multiple run-ins with law enforcement.

Trumbull County Coronerás Office ruled Thursday that 94-year-old Marie R. Belcastroás death was a homicide, a result of a blow to the head.

In a 911 recording also released Thursday, Belcastroás distraught daughter can be heard describing the scene at her motherás âransackedã 509 Cherry Ave. home, after arriving to find âblood in every roomã and furniture âthrown all over.ã

She said her mother looked âall smashedã and that she found her mother âtwistedã in the bedroom.

A âblunt objectã is listed as the weapon on a police incident report.

The incident report states Belcastro was found on the bedroom floor, âbloodied and deceased,ã just after 5:30 p.m. At 5:55 p.m., officers told St. Joseph Warren Hospital to hold LaRosa. He had been transported there, intoxicated and vomiting, witnesses said, after being discovered near the scene of the murder shortly before Belcastroás body was found.

LaRosa, 502 Cherry Ave., is being held at the Juvenile Justice Center and has been charged with aggravated murder. Witnesses have said Belcastro paid LaRosa to do lawn work in the past.

Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said the case should be transferred from family court into the Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, where LaRosa can be tried as an adult, and prosecutors will be taking the proper legal steps to make that happen.

LaRosaás history with Niles police starts in September, 2013, the first time his mother, Megan Lucariello, reported he left and wouldnát come home, he was 14 at th time. The most recent report regarding LaRosa in February this year, before Belcastroás murder, was similar in content, when his mother asked officers to help her locate him around 1 a.m.

On Aug. 26, LaRosa was charged with receiving stolen property after officer Mike Biddlestone, who responded to six out of the 19 calls involving LaRosa, discovered him with a 76-year-old manás lawn mower, according to the report. The mower had been reported stolen from 814 Griffin Ave.

âI immediately recognized the male described (by the victim of the theft),ã Biddlestone stated. âThe juvenile has been involved in numerous, similar incidents in his neighborhood.ã

Biddlestone wrote in the report that LaRosaás mother said the boy was on house arrest, but, âhe comes and goes as he pleases.ã

âI told her she is ultimately responsible for him and needs to report such disobedient behavior to his probation officer,ã Biddlestone wrote in the report.

On Aug. 1, officers found a lawn mower that had been reported stolen from 322 Lafayette Ave. in LaRosaás driveway, but he was not charged. Lawn mowers in both incidents were returned.

In July, a report states, LaRosa was caught by neighbors throwing rocks at cars, he was not charged, but officers had to settle an argument between the Lucariello and the neighbor.

âMother has been told numerous times how to file and follow up properly with TC JJC, however, appears to fail to do so,ã Biddlestone wrote in the report. âStepfather of Jacob wanted to know if at any point she (Lucariello) should be held liable (for LaRosaás actions).ã

Biddlestone told the family that any of his guardians might be liable, but his probation officer should be consulted to find a way to change his behavior.

âMother always justifies her sonás actions instead of making him take responsibility,ã Biddlestone wrote.

On June 24, an employee at the Vienna Avenue Giant Eagle told police LaRosa was on video rifling through cars. Although LaRosa was not charged, Officer Dan Atkins stated that he faxed a copy of the incident report to Sherry Calloway, his probation officer. LaRosa claimed a boy forced him to take money from the vehicle. In October of 2013, LaRosa was caught shoplifting at the same grocery store, according to a report, and Giant Eagle told officers they would press charges, but it is unclear if they did.

Jackie Franks, a former neighbor of LaRosaás, said she had caught him stealing from a convenience store where she worked at least three times, but never filed reports.

On June 2, LaRosa was arrested for assaulting his sister. Reports state he threw a glass candle at the 7-year-old, hitting her in the head and causing a 3-inch cut that left âblood covering her face and nose.ã LaRosa had fled the scene but was picked up by officers near Niles Intermediate School after reports of kids going through a dumpster there.

In May, police responded to the school for an alleged assault LaRosa was the victim of on the basketball court, no one was charged in the incident, LaRosa claimed the other boy was the aggressor and no statements or reports with more information on the altercation were provided by police.

There are three reports from LaRosaás mother and stepfather alleging he stole equipment from their garage and electronic devices in January and March of last year.

In September of 2013, Edward LaRosa, Jacobás father, filed a police report stating his son had been forced by a one-armed 60-year-old man to smoke marijuana and take valium.

LaRosa lives with his mother, siblings and stepfather, Randall Lucariello. His father has an address on Townsend Avenue in Youngstown. All three of the phone numbers listed in police reports for LaRosaás guardians have been disconnected.

rfox@tribtoday.com