T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Andrew Issac Griffin, who was arrested for the 2021 double homicide of Thomas and Angela Strussion, is not requesting bond.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Andrew Issac Griffin, the suspect in the double homicide of Thomas and Angela Strussion, is not requesting bond.

Griffin, 32, was arrested in Hilo, Hawaii, in February and extradited to Belmont County earlier this month.

Angela, 49, and Thomas, 52, Strussion were found dead inside the house along with their pets after a structure fire was reported there early on Sept. 21, 2021. A few days later, former Belmont County sheriff Dave Lucas announced that their deaths were the result of a double homicide.

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

On Friday morning Ohio Public Defender Kirk McVay informed Belmont County Common Pleas Judge Chris Berhalter that Griffin was not requesting bond. McVay added, though, that he requested the right to reserve a bond hearing in the future if he believes it is necessary.

“I will entertain that motion should it be filed,” Berhalter replied. “So at this time, no bail hearing will be held, and your client will be held without bond or bail based on the allegations contained within the indictment.”

He then said that Griffin’s representatives filed several motions. The first was a motion for a demand of discovery. Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan informed McVay and Belmont County Public Defender Aaron Miller that he would provide discovery before leaving the Belmont County Courthouse.

The second motion was the demand for DNA discovery. Berhalter asked Flanagan if that demand was applicable. Flanagan said it was to some extent and McVay and Miller would also receive that later in the day.

The next motion was a motion to preserve all evidence.

“Is the state complying with that, and is all evidence being preserved?” Berhalter asked Flanagan.

“Over the last few years, all evidence has been preserved,” Flanagan replied.

Berhalter said the next motion was for Griffin to appear in civilian clothes during his trial. Flanagan said the state will be filing a response to the request of Griffin appearing in civilian clothing.

During both his arraignment Monday and the hearing Friday, Griffin did wear civilian clothing.

McVay then made a motion to restrain the agents of the state of Ohio. Berhalter asked Flanagan if the state would be filing a response to the motion, which Flanagan confirmed.

Berhalter then asked Flanagan the timeframe when the responses will be filed.

Flanagan responded that the responses will be filed within the two-week period that is allowed by law.

Berhalter then set Griffin’s pretrial for 1:30 p.m. April 23 at the Belmont County Court of Common Pleas.