Man charged in alleged double murder will be returned to Ohio

A 32-year-old Ohio man will be extradited from Hawai‘i Island back to Ohio where he will face charges in an alleged double murder.

The Hawai‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney says Andrew Griffin was arrested Feb. 18 at Home Depot in Hilo on an outstanding no bail warrant for two counts of aggravated murder in relation to the September 2021 deaths of Thomas Steed Strussion and Angela Jo Strussion.

Griffin appeared Feb. 28 in Hilo Circuit Court for extradition proceedings.

A judge determined, after hearing testimony from Detective Kimo Keli‘ipa‘akaua and fingerprint classifier Suzanne Kong as well as arguments from counsel, that Griffin was the same fugitive from Ohio wanted on the aforementioned warrant and granted a writ of extradition and order of commitment.

The judge ordered Griffin to return to court March 24 if he is not returned to Ohio by then.

Griffin remains in custody and is being detained without bail.

“We offer our thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of the victims,” said Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen. “Our office has been in contact with the Belmont County sheriff’s and prosecutor’s offices to coordinate Griffin’s extradition back to Ohio.”

The extradition investigation was led by Hawai‘i Police Department Area I Criminal Investigation Section Detective Kimo Keli‘ipa‘akaua. The extradition proceedings were handled by Hawai‘i County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Lester.