John Zanolli, on screen in orange, is shown at his arraignment before Trumbull County Eastern District Court Judge Marty Nosich. County officials Mike Begeot also is shown.
Rachel, which is not her real name, marked the 66th birthday of her friend, Janice Zanolli, on March 4 by sitting in Trumbull County Eastern District Court as Zanolli’s brother, John Zanolli, was arraigned on a charge of aggravated murder in his sister’s death.
John Zanolli. Contributed photo.
“Somebody had to be here for her,” Rachel said.
John shot Janice to death Feb. 26 but her body wasn’t discovered until Brookfield police went to her home on Third Street in Masury on March 1 for a welfare check, police said. John Zanolli was found elsewhere in the house sitting with a rifle to his head and threatening to kill himself, police said.
“After approximately 30 minutes of negotiating with John Zanolli, officers were able to successfully deploy Tasers and, after a brief struggle, remove the firearm from him,” police said.
Appearing for arraignment via video, John gave his address and telephone number when asked for them by Judge Marty Nosich. No plea was entered because the charge of aggravated murder is a felony.
Zanolli’s attorney asked for a “reasonable bond,” which drew laughs from some in attendance. Prosecutor Deena DeVico asked that no bond be set because of the seriousness of the offense and the potential penalty of death. Nosich did not set bond but scheduled a preliminary hearing for March 11. The preliminary hearing was rendered moot when a grand jury indicted Zanolli on charges of aggravated murder with a firearms specification and abuse of a corpse on March 5. Zanolli pleaded not guilty and a pretrial hearing was set for March 12.
Rachel said she has known Janice since second grade. She described Janice as quiet, kind and sweet.
“Everybody that knew her liked her,” Rachel said. “She didn’t let many people get close to her.”
Janice, who did not own a cellphone, had an odd sense of humor, loved to read and “knew everything about music,” Rachel said.
Janice was supposed to get together with Rachel and other school friends to celebrate her birthday, Rachel said. “She was looking forward to it.”
Rachel said she last communicated by an internet messenger program with Janice on the day Janice died. When Janice didn’t respond to a message on Thursday, Rachel said she started to worry.
“It wasn’t like her not to answer,” Rachel said. “She always answered.”
Rachel said she told one of Janice’s other brothers of her inability to reach Janice.
Rachel said she knew John but hadn’t seen him in years. Anytime she would visit Janice, who lived with John, John would stay in his room, Rachel said.
“I never would have expected this from John,” Rachel said. “She did nothing but try and help John. I don’t think she was afraid of him – that’s the sad part.”
When Rachel saw the jail mug shot photo of John, she said she didn’t recognize him.
“It’s devastating, it really is,” Rachel said of Janice’s death. “She surely didn’t deserve this.”
An autopsy was to be performed March 4, police said.
