Elyria man facing trial for 2023 killing of Norwalk man in Lorain

ELYRIA — An accused killer on trial for a 2023 homicide in Lorain said Wednesday he is sticking with his defense attorney despite asking a Lorain County Common Pleas judge to fire his counsel less than two weeks ago. Less than two weeks before his trial in the July 2023 shooting death of a Norwalk man, Nathan Patfield told Judge Christopher Rothgery on Wednesday that he will keep defense attorney Steve Albenze. "I'm gonna give him a shot," Patfield, 47, of Elyria, told the judge with a trial date looming on Aug. 18. The trial date could change depending on Rothgery's rulings on several motions proposed by the defense. According to the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office, Patfield shot and killed Andy Case Jr., 71, of Norwalk, on July 23, 2023. Patfield is charged with three counts of aggravated murder, five counts of murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of felonious assault, and one count each of tampering with evidence, having weapons under disability, possession of a fentanyl-related compound and possession of drugs. All are felonies, with many having related specifications. Multiple charges of murder may be filed in a case even if there is only one victim. Each charge can allege a killing happened through different courses of conduct or under a different section of the law. Patfield has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and is being held in the Lorain County Jail on $257,500 bond. Albenze said in court he planned to file motions to suppress evidence against his client, for a competency evaluation and to continue the Aug. 18 trial date. Rothgery replied that Albenze would have to file a "motion for leave" — basically, a document asking Rothgery's permission to file his other proposed motions. He told Albenze to be specific in his requests. "I need something to tell me why I'm considering a motion to suppress in a case this old two weeks before the trial," Rothgery said. Chief Assistant Prosecutor Chris Pierre said he was concerned about Patfield's pattern of writing to the court and asking for a new attorney, his request to get rid of Albenze being the second time he has done so since. Under the rules of the court, defendants already represented by legal counsel typically are not allowed to make requests of the court "pro se," or without counsel. Pierre said he didn't want to let anyone waste the court, the eventual jury, police or witnesses' time, but Rothgery said Patfield had already withdrawn his motion for a new attorney and that was the end of that line of discussion. Patfield also has pleaded not guilty to aggravated burglary, robbery and cocaine possession charges in two other cases also being heard by Rothgery, according to court records. Pierre said Case's body was found in the area of East 30th Street and Omaha Avenue. Case had been shot four times, he said. The Lorain Police Department investigated. The alleged motive for the killing was robbery, Pierre said: Patfield allegedly stole Case's car and Lorain police later found him inside the vehicle with a 14-year-old girl, Pierre said. Case was a Norwalk native who attended Western Reserve High School and EHOVE Career Center, a vocational school in Milan, according to his published obituary. He worked as a truck driver and enjoyed pulling pranks on the younger members of his family. Lorain police did not announce Case's killing to the media when it happened in 2023, nor did they announce an arrest in the case when one was made. The Chronicle-Telegram requested records from the department on Wednesday. Reporter Carissa Woytach contributed to this story. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.