MANSFIELD — A Richland County grand jury will likely next consider the case against Jordan Skoog, accused of murder in the March 20 shooting death of Austin Smiley.
A preliminary hearing for Skoog in Mansfield Municipal Court scheduled for Thursday morning before Judge Jerry Ault did not go forward.
“There’s no need for a hearing,” Richland County Prosecutor Gary Bishop said. “(The case) will be heard next in Common Pleas court.”
Skoog, 28, of Bellville, is charged in the death of Smiley, 19, of 671 U.S. Highway 250 South in New London, found dead at 1665 Frontier Trail in Mifflin Township from a single gunshot wound to the head.
Bishop said he was unable to discuss if evidence against Skoog will be heard by a grand jury.
The initial preliminary hearing had been scheduled March 28, but was continued. Skoog is represented by defense attorney Robert Whitney.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department released a 911 call from the incident, during which the caller indicated the victim was shot in the head with a handgun and that those at the house had been drinking.
The woman who called 911 said she didn’t know who pulled the trigger on the gun.
Deputies responded to the location, which is east of Ford Road South and south of Ohio 430, at approximately 10:44 p.m., where Smiley was dead, according to the incident report.
