A Sad Week In Mentor: Week In Review

I don't like to fill Mentor Patch with sad news.

I really don't.

All jokes aside, if I could, this site would be 90 percent charity fundraisers, adorable kids, cute puppies and rainbows.

However, I can't ignore or avoid sad news. I wouldn't be doing my job and, unfortunately, I couldn't escape from the myriad of depressing stories this week.

1. Gary Stroud, a former Mentor Police officer, is accused of murdering his wife, Diane Stroud, who happens to be a former Mentor-on-the-Lake City Council president.

The disconcerting details in this story are myriad.

Diane Stroud is thought to have been dead as long as six weeks before police found her body in Stroud's garage, according to police.

According to the affidavit, Stroud told his family and neighbors that she had left him and joined a cult.

Here is a list of stories written this week that pertain to the murder investigation.

2. Chris Jacquemain -- a Mentor high graduate who also played quarterback for the Akron Zips -- .

At one point, Jacquemain's future could not have been brighter. Unfortunately, his life came to abrupt end.

Paramedics were called to Jacquemain's home on Meadowbrook Lane at 3:06 p.m., Mentor Fire Lt. Ron Zak said. He was already dead when paramedics arrived.

The cause of Jacquemain's death is undetermined, Lake County Coroner Lynn Smith said. However, the coroner added that his death will likely be ruled accidental, as opposed to homicide or suicide.

Smith said it will likely take a few weeks before the cause of death can be ascertained for certain.

3. after he was struck by a car outside of his home in the 5800 block of Heisley Road Wednesday morning.

William Ewing, 76, had walked outside of his home at about 7 a.m. He was hit by a 2004 Toyota Camry that was traveling in the curb lane, Mentor Police Sgt. Dan Molnar said.

He was walking in the street at the time of the crash.

The driver of the car, a 49-year-old Mentor woman, has not been charged with a crime.

The crash is still under investigation.

4. Shawn Harris, a former associate pastor at , has had by police, according to a message posted on the Mentor church's website.

The message is from Rev. Dave Scavuzzo, the superintendent of the faith's Western Reserve District, which includes Mentor United Methodist Church.

"Many of you know that Shawn Harris has been on a two week leave," Scavuzzo said. "This was due to the beginning of a police investigation. There have been numerous allegations that Pastor Shawn Harris has been involved in the theft of prescription drugs from people entrusted into his care as pastor."

The investigation is a joint effort by Mentor and Fairport Harbor Police Departments, according to Fairport Harbor Chief Mark Kish and Mentor Sgt. Richard Slovenkay.

Kish said that Harris is suspected of stealing prescription drugs from at least five people.

"He knew all of these people through the church," Kish said.

5. I don't want this all to be bad news, so let's end on a positive note.

Check this story out to see how a Mentor High student is helping .