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2 charged in fatal fire appear in court

WARREN — Two out of the three people being charged in connection to the Jan. 16 arson that killed 16-year-old Chassidy Broadstone appeared before Trumbull Common Pleas Judge Sean O’Brien for pretrial Wednesday.

Brendan Michael Daviduk, 28, and Patricia Ann Zarlingo, 27, both of Manchester Avenue in Youngstown, appeared with their respective attorneys.

Daviduk and Zarlingo are being held without bond in Trumbull County jail. The pair will have their next appearance in court on May 31 inside Judge O’Brien’s courtroom at 1:30 p.m. for Zarlingo and 2:30 p.m. for Daviduk

On Wednesday, both defendants waived their right to a speedy trial. No trial date for either has been set by Judge O’Brien, and the procedure, accomplished on Wednesday extended that deadline for both defendants by 270 days. Since both are incarcerated, Ohio law sets a trial date deadline of 90 days from the date of their arrest unless they waive that right.

The two along with Zackary Gurd, 23, of Youngstown, are facing two counts of aggravated murder with specification of aggravating circumstances that carry the death penalty as a possible sentence, two counts of attempted aggravated murder, first-degree aggravated arson, second-degree aggravated arson, aggravated burglary and tampering with evidence. The aggravated murder specifications state that a felony was committed in the act of the murder.

Daviduk and Zarlingo were arrested Feb. 1 at their home on the West Side of Youngstown when police noted a U-Haul van in the driveway.

The three are accused of starting the house fire that killed the Warren G. Harding High School junior and hospitalized her two sisters.

U.S. Marshal’s arrested Gurd on Feb. 3 in Chester, Va. Authorities believed he was fleeing to Florida after he found out he was wanted for questioning.

The next pretrial for Gurd is set for 1:30 p.m. March 29 before Judge Cynthia Rice.

As a result of cellphone tracking and video cameras, the three were placed at the scene of the fatal fire, authorities said. An affidavit written by a Warren police detective showed the fire might have resulted from a “feud involving adults.”

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