Murder suspects' trial delayed

NORWALK — The trial of two local men accused of murder was delayed until a third defendant can be extradited to Ohio.A grand jury indicted Scott Hall, 44, of Clyde, Adam White, 34, of Sandusky, and Joshua Stamm, Of Titusville, Fla., for the alleged murder of Michael Sheppard Jr.Hall and White were arrested locally and appeared shortly after in court, where they both pleaded not guilty.Their jury trial was scheduled for Tuesday, but was delayed pending Stamm's extradition, Ohio Attorney General spokesman Dan Tierney said. Stamm is serving a three-year prison term in Florida after U.S. Marshals found him with a gun when they arrested him.The Ohio Attorney General's Office is trying to secure an extradition back to Huron County, but Stamm recently filed a motion arguing there wasn't enough evidence to hold him.The state of Florida has until Tuesday to respond to Stamm's motion. A case management hearing for Hall and White is scheduled for Feb. 22 to decide how to proceed.A cold caseSheppard disappeared in May 2003. Perkins police investigated the case originally as a missing person.The case languished for years with no arrests. In 2009, the Ohio Attorney General's Office took over the investigation.Authorities believe Sheppard was killed in a drug dispute in Huron County. They ran extensive searches at the property where they believe Sheppard was shot and buried.Specialized teams and cadaver dogs were unable to find Sheppard's body, which remains missing.Stamm, Hall, and White were each indicted in 2017 for the alleged murder."Our office was asked to present our evidence to the grand jury who returned the indictments," Tierney said. "What we're allowed to disclose is limited before the trial."At their arraignment, Hall and White's attorneys stated the case was "paper thin" since there was no body, gun, or witnesses. Reach reporter Michael Harrington at michaelharrington@sanduskyregister.com, follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegister