Highway may be renamed to honor slain police chief

A stretch of highway U.S. 40 may be renamed to honor the Kirkersville police chief who was gunned down in an alley behind a nursing home in the early morning hours of May 12.

The Ohio Senate voted unanimously on Wednesday in favor of a bill to rename the portion of U.S. 40 that passes through the Village of Kirkersville the “Steven Eric DiSario Memorial Highway.”

DiSario, a part-time police chief in the small village, was killed by a single shotgun blast as he got out of his cruiser. DiSario, 38, had been on the job for three weeks. His sixth child — a daughter — was born the day after his funeral in May.

The shooter, Thomas Hartless, 43, also killed his ex-girlfriend Marlina Medrano, 46, and her co-worker Cindy Krantz, 48.

Hartless died by suicide inside the Pine Kirk nursing home. Hartless was released early from jail in April without a formal hearing, according to a review of court documents on how authorities handled a domestic violence case against him in Licking County.

Hartless had a history of violence and had been convicted of multiple assaults, including against Medrano.

DiSario’s in-laws live in Huber Heights.

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About the Author

Laura A. Bischoff

Laura Bischoff is our Columbus bureau reporter and covers politics and state government. She keeps a close eye on elected leaders, public employees and taxpayer money. Bischoff tries to write stories that inform voters, hold leaders accountable and strengthen democracy.