Carol Bozsik's obituary appeared in The Daily-Record (Wooster, OH) newspaper on December 2, 1999 December 2, 1999 Carol E. Bozsik, 33, of Wadsworth, died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999, at her home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday at 9:30 a.m. from Sacred Heart
Catholic Church in Wadsworth. Fr. Joseph L. Labak will officiate with burial in Ritt-
man Cemetery. Friends may call Friday, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Gillman Funeral Home in Rittman,
where a wake service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 260 Broad St.,
Wadsworth 44281. She was born December 28, 1965 in Wadsworth. Surviving are her husband, Steven A. Bozsik; her father, John Burkhart of Rittman;
a son, Brandin and a daughter, Meagan, both at home; brothers, David (Lori) Burkhart
of Rittman and Darrell Burkhart of Pennsylvania and a sister, Karen Jordan of Rittman.
The following article appeared in The Sun Newspapers (Ohio) on December 23, 1999:
HUSBAND INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGES By Tom Kessler Staff Writer
Dec. 23, 1999
A Medina County grand jury has indicted Steven Bozsik on charges of aggravated
murder and murder in connection with the Nov. 30 shooting death of his wife, Carol.
Steven Bozsik, 41, could face life in prison with no possibility of parole for 20 years
if he is convicted of aggravated murder. If he is found guilty of murder, Bozsik could
be sentenced to 15 years to life.
Each charge includes a firearm specification that would add an additional three years
of prison time.
Medina County sheriff's deputies arrested Steven Bozsik late Dec. 8 at his father-in-
law's home in Rittman. Bozsik was taken to the Medina County Jail, where he is being
held in lieu of $1 million bond.
Bozsik maintains he is innocent and has plead not guilty, his attorney, David C. Jack,
has said.
Bozsik's wife, Carol Bozsik, was shot seven times Nov. 30 in the attached garage of
the family's home at 7965 Beach Road in Wadsworth Township.
Sheriff Neil Hassinger asserted at a Dec. 9 press conference that Steven Bozsik planned
and carried out the murder of his wife.
Detective Kevin Ross, in common pleas court documents released late last week, wrote
that the Bozsiks were having financial problems and that a life insurance policy had recently
been purchased for Carol Bozsik. Ross asserted in the court documents that wanting to
collect on that life insurance policy could have been a motive for Steven Bozsik to kill his
wife.
Ross asked the common pleas court late last week for permission to search five pieces
of mail found in the Bozsik home. Ross specifically wanted to examine a two-month default
notice from First Merit Mortgage, a cancellation notice from State Farm Insurance for a 1999
Dodge Durango and statements from the city of Wadsworth (for utilities), Credit Counselors
of America and Discover.
"The mortgage payments were behind, along with other bills," Ross wrote in the affidavit
for a search warrant. "Steve Bozsik made application for a hardship loan through Aircraft
Braking Systems Incorporated."
Ross wrote that he had "probable cause to believe that there may be evidence contained
from the above companies which shows Steven Bozsik's indebtedness and a motive to
collect upon the life insurance policies on his wife."
The court granted the detective's request for a search warrant.
Investigators maintain that Steven Bozsik's account of where he was on the morning of
Nov. 30 contains discrepancies.
Sheriff's Lt. Thomas Del Regno said that Carol Bozsik, a 33-year-old mother of two, was
killed sometime between 8:30 and 9 a.m. Nov. 30.
Steven Bozsik told investigators that his wife was on the phone when he returned home
from work that morning to take out the garbage. Richard Wise, a 30-year-old Norton man,
claimed to detectives that he was having an affair with Mrs. Bozsik and he was the one she
was talking to.
Del Regno said detectives believe Steven Bozsik returned home for the trash at 8 or 8:10
a.m. He said detectives confirmed that Bozsik got back to work around 9:35 a.m.
Detective Ross wrote in a court affidavit that Bozsik was late to a 9:15 meeting at his place
of employment, Aircraft Braking Systems in Akron, which is approximately a 20-minute drive
from his house.
"Investigation revealed that the victim was having an extramarital affair, which the husband
denied existed but investigation showed husband knew of the affair," Ross wrote in a court
affidavit earlier this month. "Investigation showed that the victim was going to leave the hus-
band after the holidays."
In another affidavit, Ross wrote that the glove box of the 1999 Dodge Durango leased by
Carol Bozsik contained numerous papers.
"Said papers most probably are evidence of marital discord, planning of the crime, the
victim's relationship with her alleged boyfriend and evidence of financial status, financial
debt, financial problems and motive for homicide," Ross wrote.
Carol Bozsik was scheduled to work at her bartending job at the Applebee's restaurant
in Wadsworth at 10 a.m. the day she was killed. She was dressed in her work uniform when
she was found dead in her garage beside her sport utility vehicle.
Steven Bozsik placed a frantic 911 call at 3:07 p.m. Nov. 30 reporting that his wife had been
shot.
Del Regno said robbery was not a motive in the murder.
Medina County Coroner Neil Grabenstetter said an autopsy performed in Cuyahoga County
found that Carol Bozsik died quickly after being shot seven times in the chest and abdomen. At
least one of the bullets hit her in the hand and arm first.
In 1930, Tilton W. Brandfass (27) rented part of the home at 1016 Pine St., Zanesville, Muskingum County, Ohio. He lived with his wife of six years, Jessie S. (28) and their daughter Raye June (4 yrs 9 mos). Tilton was a native of West Virginia, as was his father. His mother was English. Jessie and Raye June were born in Ohio. Tilton was a machinist in a glass plant. The owners of the home were Jessie's sister and her husband, George and Carmen Clapper. Jessie's parents, Henry and Jemima Kullman, lived next door. The Brandfass family did not own a radio set.
Dates of birth and death (from Social Security Death Index and Ohio online death certificate index) have not been proven.
The following article appeared on the front page of the Zanesville Signal on 29 May 1947:
WHEELER RD. MOTHER DIES IN FLAMES
Victim Alone As Blast Rips 3-Room Cottage
Mrs. Jessie Brandfass, 46, of 1408 Wheeler road, was burned to
death shortly after 4 o’clock this morning when fire, which followed
the explosion of an oil stove, swept the interior of her three-room
cottage.
Mrs. Brandfass was alone at the time, having sent her 14-year-old
son Donald, to a neighbor’s with some coffee. Her husband, Tilton,
was at work at Hazel Atlas Glass plant on Market street.
Charles Kessler of 1386 Wheeler road turned in the fire alarm when
he noticed smoke pouring from the house. The woman was found just
inside the door, burned beyond recognition.
Sidewalls and ceiling of the residence which had been converted from
a garage, were damaged. Two pet cats and a dog perished in the fire,
along with all furnishings.
County Coroner S. S. Daw and city policemen investigated.
Surviving her side her husband and son of the home, are another son,
Ray Brandfass of Orchard street, and a sister, Mrs. Carmen Clapper of
742 Pine street.
The body was removed to the Keck funeral home.
-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-From death certificate:
Name: Jessie Bertha Brandfass
Residence: 408 Hetzler Ave., Zanesville
Age: 46 years 9 months 5 days
Occupation: Housewife
Birth: 23 Aug 1901, Caldwell, Ohio
Marital status: Married
Spouse: Tilton Brandfass, 45
Father: Henry Kullman
Mother: Jemima Harbin
Informant: Betty Martin, 408 Hesster Ave. [relationship unknown]
Leo Wagner was a butcher in a grocery store.