T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Andrew Issac Griffin leaves Belmont County Common Pleas Court after asking to wait until his pretrial hearing on May 7 to decide whether to waive his right to a speedy trial. Belmont County Public Defender Aaron Miller is shown at right.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Andrew Issac Griffin, the man accused of double homicide in the deaths of Angela and Thomas Strussion, was in court Friday morning for the second time this week.

Friday’s appearance was originally planned for Griffin to waive his right to a speedy trial; however, after speaking with Ohio Public Defender Kirk McVay and Belmont County Public Defender Aaron Miller, he decided not to waive that right.

“Just to bring you up to date for the record, Mr. Miller had met with Mr. Griffin yesterday and discussed the matter of waiving his right to speedy trial, at which point he had indicated to Mr. Miller he’d be willing to do so,” McVay said. “And then, I believe it was early this morning when he contacted Mr. Miller, he indicated having rethought things and reviewed some matters, including some of the discovery that he has been provided that he has changed his mind on that but not made a definitive decision.

“He would respectfully ask for a period of time until May the seventh in which we are scheduled for the pretrial status conference, to make a definitive answer with respect to whether he chooses to waive or not waive the right to speedy trial,” he added.

Belmont County Common Pleas Judge Chris Berhalter then told Griffin, “At the last proceeding, I explained to you your right to a speedy trial. That is, the state of Ohio has to bring you to trial within 270 days, from the date of your arrest, 90 if you remain in custody on this matter. It is your right, thereby only you can waive it, and you must decide whether you want to do that or not. Do you understand? No one can force you to do that or threaten you in any way. It is your right. Do you understand everything?”

Griffin responded that he understood.

Berhalter then asked Griffin if he had completed a financial affidavit, to which Griffin responded yes.

Berhalter then asked both McVay and Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan if either had any other matters that needed to be addressed Friday. After both parties said no, Berhalter said that a pretrial hearing was set for 1:30 p.m. May 7.

Griffin, who was arrested in February, was Thomas Strussion’s former business partner in the Elm Grove location of the Salsa Joe’s restaurant, which opened in May 2021 — five months before the Strussions’ deaths. Strussion also owned and operated a Salsa Joe’s location along National Road east of Morristown, not far from the home on Trails End Drive where their bodies and their pets’ bodies were found.