$1 million bond set in Warren homicide

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The girl's injuries didn't appear to be serious at first, a relative says.

By ED RUNYAN

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — The attorney for an 18-year-old city woman accused of murder says the $1 million bond his client must post to get out of jail is too much for what he called a tragic accident.

Ciera Limbeck of Elm Road appeared before Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court today and pleaded innocent to charges of murder and felonious assault in the Labor Day death of 16-year-old Brittany Fuller of Swallow Street Southwest.

Judge Logan agreed with the recommendation of David Toepfer, assistant county prosecutor, to set bond at $1 million, saying he didn't know anything about the case except that it appeared to be a murder.

The petite Limbeck remained quiet through the short hearing and was led back to Trumbull County Jail at its conclusion.

Afterward, Atty. Phil Arbie said he believes there is a chance his client's bond could be lowered after more facts about the case come out.

"It was an accident, really," Arbie said of the stabbing that claimed the Warren G. Harding sophomore's life.

"She's cut. No one does anything for an hour. She bleeds to death. It's kind of a tragedy," Arby said, adding that he has not talked to the coroner's office to confirm the details.

"If someone would have put their hand over her neck, she might have been saved," he continued, adding that he's heard Fuller only received one wound to her neck, and it may have just been a "nick."

Arbie added that he hears violent crimes are down in the United States but "dis crimes" — ones in which violence occurs because someone disrespects another — are up.

Police said Limbeck arrived at a Peace Avenue apartment where Fuller was staying with her cousin, and Limbeck and Fuller began to fight. Police said it appeared the two argued on the telephone before the fight.

Police said Limbeck used a 3-inch folding knife and stabbed Fuller in the neck. Fuller died later at St. Joseph Health Center.

Limbeck is due back in court Oct. 17 for her first pretrial. That date was selected because it gives the prosecutor's office enough time to receive the autopsy report from Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk, the county's forensic pathologist.

Sue Click of Warren, Fuller's aunt, said two weeks ago the confrontation came about after Limbeck had been "pranking" Fuller — calling on her cell phone and hanging up before Fuller could answer.

When Limbeck later showed up at the back door with her boyfriend, Fuller wanted to confront her because she believed Limbeck was disrespecting her cousin's home, Click said. Her cousin tried to persuade Fuller to remain inside.

Limbeck and Fuller began fighting, they fell to the ground, and Fuller was stabbed in the neck, Click said. When Fuller got up, she said she wasn't hurt except for some blood by her nose.

Not realizing she was hurt, Fuller told her cousin she would probably have bruises because of the fight, Click said. She told her cousin she was dizzy and going to bed. But Fuller collapsed at the door and fell onto the living room floor, Click said.

runyan@vindy.com

Tuesday, September 19, 2006