T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Former Belmont County sheriff Dave Lucas steps back into the limelight to provide an update on the status of Andrew Isaac Griffin, who was arrested last month for the 2021 double homicide of Thomas and Angela Strussion in their Belmont home.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Dave Lucas came out of retirement Monday and joined Belmont County Sheriff James Zusack to update the public on the progress of a double homicide investigation.

The sheriff’s office held a press conference to provide information on the status of Andrew Isaac Griffin, who was arrested last month for the 2021 murders of Thomas and Angela Strussion.

Both Zusack and Lucas, who retired as sheriff in December, spoke briefly at the press conference.

Zusack said that Griffin, a resident of Oklahoma, was arrested in Hawaii on Feb. 18 by the Hawaii Police Department in cooperation with Belmont County sheriff’s Chief Detective Ryan Allar and Detective Sgt. Jordan Bluling on an extradition warrant.

He added that on Feb. 28, Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan presented the case against Griffin to a Belmont County grand jury, which returned an indictment charging Griffin with “various counts” of aggravated murder.

Flanagan said the charges were addressed in a news release as “various counts” due to there being multiple victims.

“Obviously, you will have a count for each victim, and there’s also the allegation that this was done during a burglary and/or an aggravated arson. So you will have those counts as well,” the prosecutor said.

It remained unclear following the news conference whether Griffin had been extradited, but according to Flanagan, in some cases extradition can take up to 90 days. Zusack declined to comment when asked during the press conference if Griffin had been or will be extradited.

“There is very little that we can do to essentially get him back,” Flanagan said. “We have provided everything that has been requested of us, and as soon as they (the Hawaii Police Department) tell us that he can be returned to the (Belmont County) jurisdiction, we will make those arrangements to have him return to the jurisdiction.”

Published reports indicate that Griffin’s Friday extradition hearing resulted in a judge ordering his return to Ohio. According to the Honolulu Star Advertiser, “Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto’s order gives Belmont County, Ohio, authorities 30 days to take custody of Andrew Isaac Griffin and return him to face charges he killed Thomas Strussion, 51, and Angela Strussion, 49. Deputy Prosecutor Rebecca Lester called two witnesses, Hawaii Police Department Detective Kimo Keliipaakaua and Suzanne Kong, a civilian fingerprint technician for HPD. Keliipaakaua testified that Belmont County sheriff’s detectives traced Griffin to the Big Island using flight information.”

The Honolulu Star Advertiser added that Nakamoto ordered Griffin to remain in custody without bail at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center pending extradition.

Griffin, 32, is Thomas Strussion’s former business partner in the Elm Grove location of the Salsa Joe’s restaurant, which opened in May 2021 — just five months prior to the S\trussions’ deaths. Strussion also owned and operated a Salsa Joe’s location along National Road east of Morristown, not far from his Belmont-area home.

The Strussions and their pets were found dead inside their home on Trails End Drive after a structure fire was reported there early on Sept. 21, 2021. A few days later, Lucas announced that their deaths were the result of a double homicide.

In July 2023, Griffin was declared a missing person by the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office in Oklahoma. Law enforcement in Harris County, Texas, informed the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office in October 2023 that Griffin had been located, was safe, and had been taken into custody on outstanding warrants out of LeFlore and Oklahoma County.

According to KOTV News 6 in Tusla, Oklahoma, Griffin was arrested in a Houston, Texas, airport while deboarding a plane from Honduras in 2023. At that time, he was charged with kidnapping and domestic violence.

Lucas on Monday said that during the investigation, Belmont County detectives conducted extensive interviews with witnesses nationwide and pursued leads in Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Oklahoma.

“Presently, Belmont County detectives and FBI agents are pursuing witness interviews in Oklahoma,” Lucas said.

Zusack added that he strongly encourages the public to provide any information pertinent to the investigation.

“Detectives can be reached at any time by contacting the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office at 740-695-7933 or the tip line for Crime Stoppers of the Upper Ohio Valley at 877-TIPS4US (877-847-7487),” he said.

Lisa Balog, Thomas Strusson’s sister, was present at the press conference but did not speak to reporters until after it concluded.

“Every day for the past three years honestly feels like the day it happened, and being here today and having the news come out officially is such a big day and a big step forward with having final closure and justice,” she said. “I got very emotional sitting in the back and hearing that an arrest was made, and just hearing Sheriff Zusack say those words made me emotional.”

Following her brother’s death, Balog reopened the Salsa Joe’s business in Belmont County as the My Way Cafe restaurant to honor her brother and sister-in-law. My Way Cafe closed in December, and Balog has taken on a role at Giovanni’s Bakery in Bellaire.

She said she continues to think about her brother and sister-in-law each day since their lives were taken, and while she knows that the journey to justice isn’t complete yet, she believes Griffin’s arrest is a huge step in the right direction.

“There’s not a day that goes by since Sept. 21 that it has not been thought about. I’m talking morning, noon and night. I can’t tell you how many sleepless nights there’ve been. My sleep pattern has changed in the past three years,” Balog said. “I know it’s going to be a long journey ahead, but we’re ready for whatever that journey is to be able to get to the very end of this.”

She added that her entire family cannot thank the community enough for the support it has provided her in these trying times. She said she is confident the community will continue to support her and work to make sure her family receives justice.

Zusack said he would like to recognize the Belmont County Coroner’s Office, Belmont County commissioners, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FBI Special Agents Bryan Lacy and Rachel Butler, FBI Analyst Brian Warcholak, LeFlore County Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office, LeFlore County Oklahoma District Attorney’s Office, The Cold Case Foundation’s Greg Cooper and Dean Jackson, Sheryl McCollum of The Cold Case Investigation Research Institution, McCurtain County Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office, Detective John Mowrer, Choctaw County Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office, Hugo Oklahoma Police Department, Detective Bob White, Hawaii County Police Department, Detective Kimo Keliipaakaua and Lucas for their contributions to the investigation.