photo by: Gage Vota

Andrew Isaac Griffin, accused in the 2021 murders of Thomas and Angela Strussion, appears for his arraignment Monday in Belmont County Common Pleas Court.

Andrew Issac Griffin pleaded not guilty Monday to the double homicide of Thomas and Angela Strussion — crimes that carry a potential death sentence.

Griffin was arraigned in Belmont County Common Pleas Court on Monday in front of Judge Chris Berhalter. Griffin was represented by Ohio Public Defender Kirk McVay and Belmont County Public Defender Aaron Miller as he pleaded not guilty to killing the couple in their Belmont-area home.

Griffin was extradited to Ohio from Hilo, Hawaii, on Friday morning. He had been arrested in February in connection with the double homicide.

Griffin, 32, is Thomas Strussion’s former business partner in the Elm Grove location of the Salsa Joe’s restaurant, which opened in May 2021 — just five months prior to the Strussions’ deaths. Strussion also owned and operated a Salsa Joe’s location along National Road east of Morristown, not far from the home on Trails End Drive where their bodies were found.

Both Angela, 49, and Thomas, 52, Strussion were found dead inside the house along with their pets after a structure fire was reported there early on Sept. 21, 2021.

The state of Ohio was represented Monday by Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan and Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Vavra.

Griffin is charged with 12 counts of aggravated murder, one count of aggravated arson and one count of aggravated burglary. According to Flanagan, six of the 12 aggravated murder charges are for the murder of Thomas Strussion while the other six are for the murder of Angela Strussion.

“The aggravated murder statute under Ohio law takes many different forms … ,” Flanagan said. “So, for instance, you could have purposely caused the death of another with prior calculation and design, and we have that. But you can also have purposely caused the death of another in the commission of a burglary, or cause the death of another in commission of an arson, or cause the death of another … by trespassing in their habitation. So all of that is a separate offense.”

Berhalter informed Griffin that if he is convicted of the aggravated murder charges, he could be sentenced to death, life imprisonment without parole, life imprisonment with eligibility for parole after serving 25 years in prison, or life imprisonment with eligibility for parole after serving 30 years of imprisonment.

If convicted of aggravated arson, Griffin could face anywhere from eight to 12 years behind bars. If convicted of aggravated burglary, he could face up to 11 years in prison.

Berhalter also told Griffin that because he allegedly brandished a firearm when committing the aggravated burglary, a firearm stipulation would be added and, if he is convicted of the firearm stipulation, that would add an additional three years.

Griffin is being held at the Belmont County Jail without bond but will be back in court at 9 a.m. Friday for a hearing to determine whether a bond could be set.