Beacon Journal staff report
Barberton police have arrested four people in connection with the shooting death of a North Canton man.
John P. Smith, 36, of North Canton, was killed Jan. 4, Barberton police said. His body was recovered Friday from Conotton Creek in Tuscarawas County.
An autopsy Monday showed Smith died of a single gunshot wound to the head.
Detectives on Monday announced the arrests of four suspects. John Yanik, 52, of Barberton, Stephen Batdorf, 46, of Akron, Paul Wright, 46, of Akron, and Trisha Copley, 22, of Barberton, are being held in the Summit County Jail.
Detectives began investigating the homicide Jan. 28 and learned that Smith was killed weeks earlier while in the 1800 block of West Turkeyfoot Lake Road in Barberton. A series of search warrants were executed and led to the arrests of the suspects.
Yanik is charged with the murder. Batdorf, Wright and Copley are charged with tampering with evidence.
Detectives are continuing to investigate the shooting and would not release additional information about the slaying.
