police photo of Joshua Gurto, subject of national manhunt in the murder of 13 month old Sereniti Sutley in Conneaut, Ohio

Manhunt Continues In Search Of Suspect In Rape Murder Of 13 Month Old Northern Ohio Infant

by Richard Cameron


CONNEAUT, OHIO

Law enforcement in the state of Ohio and nationally, are on the hunt for the suspect in the murder of a 13 month old infant in Conneaut, Ohio.

The suspect (pictured in the featured image), is being sought for having raped Sereniti Jazzlynn-Sky Blankenship-Sutley and mortally inflicting blunt force trauma to the child’s head and body. Police went to a Clark Street apartment about 5 a.m. on a report of an unresponsive child. Sereniti was found in her mother’s arms who screamed, “Help my baby.”

Conneaut Law Director Kyle Smith , issued a statement on the crime, saying, “This is a horrible, despicable and devastating crime, affecting everyone who has come into contact with it, including EMT personnel, Conneaut police officers, and UH doctors, nurses and other medical personnel. This case is far from over and it continues to be an ongoing investigation.”  Local news reported that emergency responders became physically ill when they witnessed the condition of the child.

The suspect, is named Joshua Dale Gurto, 37.  Charges of aggravated murder and rape have been filed against Gurto. The Ashtabula County Coroner’s Office, in a preliminary report disclosed that the death of the infant is attributable to blunt force trauma to her head and body. Emergency first responders transported the unconscious child to University Hospitals Conneaut Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

The child’s mother is a subject of the ongoing investigation of the murder of Sereniti.

National Compass is calling on our readers to be on the lookout for Gurto, who is described as 5’10” tall and weighing 145 pounds. He has a deformed right ear and a misaligned jaw. He has tattoos on his right forearm.

Authorities say Gurto has ties to Ashtabula County and western Pennsylvania.  The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Joshua Gurto.

“Any friends, family, anybody that knows his whereabouts, has an idea where he could be, please don’t hesitate to call,” says Detective Michael Sullivan of the Conneaut Police Department.  

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Conneaut Police Department at 440-593-7440 or if you wish to remain anonymous, call 440-593-7423.

You can also contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED or text keyword “WANTED” and tip to 84711.

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