BENNIE ADAMS TRIAL | Adams seen using murder victim’s car, ATM card

YOUNGSTOWN — On the second day of testimony in the Bennie Adams murder trial, a witness described seeing a man he recognized “from the neighborhood” who was using homicide victim Gina Tenney’s car and ATM card in Liberty Township on the night she died.

John Allie, who asked that his picture not be taken, later identified Adams to police in 1985. He said Adams spent a lot of time inside the Dollar bank branch using its ATM machine — but Adams didn’t know what he was doing. “He was punching in numbers,” Allie said.

Later, Adams walked up to Allie’s car, put his hands on the car, waved and drove off in Tenney’s car.

An accounting employee for the bank, now part of National City Bank, testified that someone using Tenney’s ATM card the night of Dec. 29, 1985, tried unsuccessfully to withdraw about $300 in four separate transactions.

Adams, 51, of Youngstown, is on trial in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court in the death of Tenney, who was a 19-year-old Youngstown State University student who lived upstairs from Adams. Her body was found in the Mahoning River. If convicted, Adams could face the death penalty.

Read more in Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com