justice for cody sign

HUBBARD — Police are continuing to investigate the death, five years ago today, of 26-year-old Cody Pitts — and say it’s their priority case.

Pitts was killed on Orchard Avenue near North Main Street. His body was nearly hit by a passing female motorist who called 911 about 3:30 a.m.

“It’s been an ongoing investigation since. We believe that there’s people out there that know what happened and are carrying this burden with them. And we can only hope that this burden gets so heavy to carry that they eventually come forward,” said police Chief Robert Thompson. “He was a well-known, well-liked person of our community.”

According to initial police reports, Pitts was last seen at 2:35 a.m. March 7 walking from the Downtown Coffee Cafe, North Main Street. He had spent a few hours with friends and may have been the last patron to leave, police said.

Then-Trumbull County

Coroner Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk, who died in 2018, said Pitts died of a gunshot wound to the head and neck.

Thompson stresses that this case is the No. 1 priority of the police department and that it is constantly being worked on.

“I can reassure the community that we want to bring closure to this case for the family and the community. It’s being investigated as the highest priority, ” said Thompson. “And our detective (Michael Banic) will have the support of my office, whether it be manpower, funding resources, whatever it will be to get this case done. I know it’s No. 1 on his priority list as well.”

Tipsters, anonymous or not, can reach Crime Stoppers at 330-746-CLUE. The reward for information is $20,000.

“Personally, this is always on my mind every day. This case, even if I’m not working on it, I’m thinking about it. There’s nothing more that I want other than to solve this case,” Banic said. “I like to call it murder because that’s really what it is, a murder. Homicide kind of puts a nice sound to it, it’s more of a politically correct way of saying murder. Murder is what it is. It’s cold blood and that’s what happened that night.”

Banic added that the department will not stop until the person responsible is caught.

“Statistically speaking and based on our personal opinions, it’s more likely that more than one person knows. If there’s more than one person that means there’s at least one person that may know just enough to close the case,” said Banic.

Banic, who took over as detective in 2018, has been working with some of the original investigators on the case, along with outside investigators. While he is not a profiler, his opinion on the perpetrator, based on his experience, is that it is a male who may have social problems.

“I think they may have trouble controlling their temper and can snap off. I think they have a history of some type of violence, whether it be domestic violence or fighting, more on the lower end of that spectrum — just turbulent type stuff like arguing or fighting,” Banic said. “That’s just my opinion, though, to kind of build a profile of who did that.”

One thing that keeps these officers going and confident that they will solve the case is the sense of community that Hubbard has. Everyone wants this case solved.

“The people in this community will not forget,” said Mayor Ben Kyle. “It’s heart-wrenching to have this young man murdered, and someone out there knows something and we just hope we comes forward. It’s truly a tragedy within the community.”

Pitts’ friends and family continue to remember him and they even come together on a Saturday near the 7th for what they call a “pity day.”

“Cody always had a way of bringing people together and making us laugh. He knew everybody,” said close friend Chris Lacivita. “This time of year is especially hard, but we don’t want to dwell on it. We celebrate Cody.”

Lacivita said they all get together to reminisce and share memories and inside jokes that they had with Pitts.

“He was such a huge part of our lives, he lives with us every day,” said Lacivita.