YOUNGSTOWN — Mickele J. Glenn, 36, was seemingly on the verge of having the murder and aggravated burglary charges against him dismissed Monday morning in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court when something wholly unexpected happened.

Mahoning County prosecutors, who on Friday asked Judge Anthony D’Apolito for permission to request dismissal of the charges because of the unavailability of a key witness, learned that the witness did, in fact, show up at the Mahoning County Courthouse on Monday morning, when Glenn’s trial was scheduled to begin.

“Much to everyone’s surprise, the witness did appear this morning on her own volition and was taken into custody on a material witness warrant,” Assistant Mahoning County Prosecutor Katie Jones said during a hearing on the case Monday morning.

Jones’ Friday filing stated that the witness, whose testimony is “crucial” to the prosecution’s case, had not been located, despite “multiple, ongoing efforts,” Jones stated. She said prosecutors made “significant efforts” to locate the witness, including having their own investigator look for the witness, “traveling to (his or her) residence, former places of employment, last known addresses,” in addition to having the U.S. Marshal’s Service apply its resources to the search.

Furthermore, prosecutors convinced D’Apolito to issue a material witness warrant for the witness’ arrest Sept. 19, according to Jones and court documents.

The news that the witness unexpectedly appeared at the time of trial meant that some discussion had to take place between the attorneys and D’Apolito about what to do next. They discussed various issues that would prevent the trial from starting Monday as scheduled, such as a detective being out of state on training.

Attorney Aaron Meikle, who represents Glenn, told D’Apolito that Glenn was ready to go to trial today despite it meaning the investigator would have to testify by video hookup from the location of his training.

Meikle said he discussed with Glenn that having the detective testify in person is “way better” than him testifying remotely, but Glenn has maintained his innocence and “at this point is tired of sitting in jail,” Meikle said.

D’Apolito said he would try the case today, but the remote testimony and a medical appointment later this week for one of the attorneys are important considerations. He suggested moving the trial to Dec. 2, and the defense and prosecution agreed.

“The witness is not to be released. She is to be held without bond until this matter is concluded,” D’Apolito said.

Glenn is charged with the Oct. 31, 2023, shooting death of Edward Lewis, 53, on Oneta Street near Salt Springs Road on the West Side. Glenn was secretly indicted in the case in April after the U.S. Marshal’s Service took him into custody.

Court documents state that Lewis was shot in his own home Oct. 31, 2023, but his body was not found until Nov. 2. Lewis died of multiple gunshot wounds.

The case went unsolved until police obtained information related to a home where Lewis was living in Struthers not long before he moved to Youngstown, where he was killed.