Trial in fatal 2024 Eaton Twp. shooting rescheduled to January

ELYRIA — Delays in the trial of an Eaton Township man accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend in his home in May 2024 had his defense attorneys and an assistant Lorain County prosecutor at odds in Common Pleas Judge Donna Freeman's court on Thursday. Clifford Serafine Jr., 35, of Melody Lane, has pleaded not guilty to 16 felonies and one misdemeanor in the May 26, 2024, shooting death of Katlyn Kurtz, 29. He is being held in the Lorain County Jail on $1 million bond. The felony charges against him include multiple counts of aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, and domestic violence, and single counts of kidnapping, tampering with evidence and possession of criminal tools, as well as one count of using weapons while intoxicated, a misdemeanor. A trial date is tentatively set for Jan. 12 after the original trial date of Aug. 11 was continued. Multiple charges of murder can be filed in cases with a single victim, each alleging different actions or conduct ending in death. Serafine faces a maximum possible punishment of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of aggravated murder. The defense, led by father-and-son attorneys Kenneth and Andrew Ortner with co-counsel Benjamin Kleidman, have not made their strategy known. Kleidman and Andrew Ortner said in court Thursday they wouldn't do so with a Chronicle-Telegram reporter present, not wanting to taint the potential jury pool. Serafine hired Kenneth Ortner, who has since become ill and might not be available for upcoming court hearings. Andrew Ortner and Kleidman told Freeman they were more than capable of defending Serafine without the elder Ortner being available. Assistant Prosecutor Daniellela Leigh said she was sympathetic to the health-related delay, but the case "cannot be allowed to languish indefinitely." "The victim and the victim's family are entitled to a prompt resolution, and the defendant likewise has the right to a timely disposition, and th estate is concerned that continued reliance on attorney (Kenneth) Ortner's availability may result in an unreasonable delay for all involved," she said. After Leigh asked Freeman to make sure Serafine was aware of his rights, Serafine told the judge he was and knew Kenneth Ortner might not be available for coming hearings. He said he was comfortable going forward with the two younger men as his attorneys. Leigh also alleged that the defense had refused to informally discuss its case with her, complicating possible plea negotiations. She said her attempts to approach them were "unproductive." The defense attorneys objected to Leigh discussing in public conversations they said were had behind closed doors. Andrew Ortner told Freeman that Leigh was asking the defense to lay out its possible strategy for Serafine's trial, and "we didn't feel comfortable doing that." It's up to a jury to decide how to interpret evidence, Kleidman said. He said he won't argue his case in the media. "We are doing everything we can to advocate for our client," Kleidman told Freeman. Freeman set a hearing Oct. 16 on the defense's motion to suppress evidence. It is the fourth date she has set since the case was filed, with all the others continued. She also set another hearing in the case for Sept. 11. The Lorain County Sheriff's Office said deputies were called to 12583 Melody Lane just after 11 p.m. May 26, 2024, for a report of a shooting. They found Kurtz dead, arrested Serafine, interviewed and jailed him, according to a news release. Leigh said in court that Serafine gave investigators multiple versions of how Kurtz died that night. He had previously entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, but later dropped that defense. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.