Warren Township arson suspect ruled incompetent for trial

Judge says Bruton is restorable for future proceedings

WARREN -- The suspect in a double murder arson that claimed the lives of two Warren Township men was deemed incompetent, but restorable.

A status conference hearing for Carroll Bruton, 73, was scheduled Tuesday in the courtroom of Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Ronald Rice to determine his competency to stand trial. Rice said an evaluation on Bruton showed he was able to participate in his defense, but his psychosis was so bad that he couldn't be restored to stand trial at the moment.

The judge said another hearing will be held in 90 days to touch base on the status of Bruton's mental health. Rice said the elderly defendant suffers from at least two mental conditions, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

For now, Bruton will remain at Heartland Behavioral Health in Massillon, where he will be placed on medication, court records show.

In January, Bruton was accused of setting fire to a Miller Street SW residence he shared with the two victims who died as a result of the flames, 82-year-old Roscoe Toles and 51-year-old Etianne Whitaker.

According to a fire report, crews arriving at the scene said they could see flames throughout the house. Mutual aid was requested as the roof and second story collapsed.

Crews also found a powerline hazard in front of the structure.

Neighbors told firefighters that three people lived at the structure, but only two possibly were inside.

Before Rice took the bench for Bruton's common pleas arraignment, the 73-year-old made incoherent statements and rambled to deputies standing guard.

Several times, Bruton interrupted the hearing to make statements as Rice cautioned the defendant to let his legal counsel speak for him.

During that hearing, Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Charles Morrow requested to have Bruton held in the county jail without bond, which the judge granted.

"There have been suggestions of additional physical harm to other family members including potentially burning another house down or burning other people," Morrow said.

That said, Morrow told the court he believes Bruton represents a "serious risk to the public if released on bond."

The prosecutor also confirmed that Bruton does have mental health issues.