Andrew Isaac Griffin is an Oklahoma man on trial in Belmont County, Ohio, accused of killing former business partner Thomas Strussion and Strussion’s wife, Angela, in September 2021. Prosecutors allege the killings followed a dispute over money and control of a restaurant business. Griffin has pleaded not guilty, and the allegations remain unproven unless established by the jury.
The trial began in October 2026 after Griffin was arrested in Hawaii and extradited to Ohio. The case has drawn attention because it combines a failed business relationship, a double homicide, an arson investigation and disputed cellphone evidence.
Who is Andrew Griffin?
Griffin was born in 1992 and is from Whitesboro, Oklahoma. Before the criminal case, he had business ties to Thomas and Angela Strussion, who operated restaurants connected with the Salsa Joe’s brand in the Ohio Valley.
According to the prosecution’s opening statement, Griffin became involved in the Strussions’ business operations and was associated with one of the restaurants. The relationship later deteriorated. Prosecutors say the business was shut down, Griffin was removed from bank accounts, and the dispute left him angry over money he believed he was owed.
Those details form the prosecution’s suggested motive. They are not a finding that Griffin committed the murders. The defense has argued that the state’s case relies on circumstantial evidence, questionable witnesses and an absence of direct proof placing Griffin at the crime scene.
What happened to Thomas and Angela Strussion?
Thomas Strussion, 52, and Angela Strussion, 49, were found dead inside their Belmont-area home on September 21, 2021. The residence had caught fire, and investigators determined that both victims had been shot. The fire also killed two dogs and a cat.
Prosecutors allege the fire was set to destroy evidence and conceal the killings. The state’s opening presentation described separate gunshot wounds to both victims and argued that the scene was initially treated as a fire investigation before the suspected shootings became central to the case.
Angela Strussion’s family has described her as a successful businesswoman who was well known and generous in her community. Her father, Eddie Cutrer, has spoken publicly about the loss and the family’s wait for the case to reach trial.
Why is the murder case connected to a business dispute?
The prosecution’s theory is that Griffin and the Strussions’ business relationship collapsed before the killings. Prosecutors say the dispute involved money, access to business accounts and Griffin’s removal from the operation.
During opening statements, the state characterized the alleged motive as “money and revenge.” Prosecutors also referred to a statement that Griffin allegedly made to Arthur Cole, described in court coverage as Griffin’s surrogate grandfather. Cole reportedly told investigators that he heard Griffin say he had gone to get his money and had killed two people.
The defense is expected to challenge that account and the credibility of witnesses connected to Griffin. Defense attorney Samuel Schamansky has described the case as one built on implication rather than direct evidence. He has also attacked the reliability and motives of key witnesses, including Griffin’s former wife and a former friend.
What evidence do prosecutors say links Griffin to the killings?
One of the most closely watched pieces of evidence is a cellphone that investigators have called a “mystery phone.” Prosecutors say the phone was activated on September 19, 2021, and stopped functioning on the morning of September 21, the day the Strussions were found dead.
According to the state’s opening statement, Griffin’s regular phone showed little activity during that period, while the separate phone was active. Investigators later traced the purchase of the mystery phone to a Walmart and found that it had been registered under a Tennessee name associated with one of Griffin’s Facebook contacts.
Investigators also learned that Griffin’s former wife found a cellphone and a tracking device in a vehicle he was known to drive. She turned those items over to police, according to the prosecution’s account.
The significance of that evidence remains contested. The prosecution will have to persuade jurors that the devices were connected to Griffin and that they help establish his location, intent or involvement in the murders. The defense maintains that the evidence does not directly place him inside the Strussions’ home.
Why was Andrew Griffin arrested in Hawaii?
Griffin was arrested in Hawaii in February 2025, more than three years after the deaths. He was later extradited to Ohio to face the charges.
Earlier in the investigation, police reportedly considered Griffin a person of interest but initially moved away from him because cellphone records appeared to place him somewhere else when the killings occurred. Prosecutors say investigators returned to Griffin after other investigative leads failed to produce an arrest.
Law enforcement also conducted investigative work in Oklahoma, where Griffin had lived. Authorities publicly sought additional information from people in the area who might have known Griffin or had information about the business relationship and his movements.
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What charges does Griffin face?
Griffin was originally charged in a 14-count indictment. Before opening statements, a judge dismissed some counts to streamline the proceedings.
The charges remaining at the start of trial included:
- Two counts of aggravated murder
- Two counts of aggravated murder with a firearm specification
- Aggravated arson
The exact legal elements of each count matter to the jury. Prosecutors must prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, while Griffin is presumed innocent throughout the trial.
What is the latest status of the Andrew Griffin trial?
As of October 27, 2026, the trial is underway in the Belmont County Court of Common Pleas before Judge Chris Berhalter. Jury selection was completed before opening statements began on October 26.
The first day focused on the competing theories presented by the prosecution and defense. The state emphasized the alleged financial dispute, the mystery phone and statements attributed to people close to Griffin. The defense argued that the case is circumstantial and that several witnesses have reasons to be disbelieved.
No verdict has been reported at this stage. The outcome will depend on the evidence admitted during testimony, the credibility of witnesses and whether prosecutors can establish Griffin’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
What remains disputed in the case?
The central dispute is not whether Thomas and Angela Strussion died violently. That part of the case is established by the discovery of their bodies and the investigation into the fire. The contested question is whether prosecutors can prove that Griffin was responsible.
Several issues are likely to receive sustained attention during the trial:
- Whether the mystery phone can be reliably connected to Griffin.
- Whether cellphone records accurately establish Griffin’s location in September 2021.
- Whether witnesses who knew Griffin are credible.
- Whether the business dispute provides evidence of motive or only a possible source of conflict.
- Whether the physical and digital evidence proves involvement beyond a reasonable doubt.
A motive, even if proven, is not enough by itself to establish murder. Likewise, suspicious behavior or association with a victim does not replace proof of each criminal charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Andrew Griffin?
Andrew Isaac Griffin is an Oklahoma man accused in the 2021 killings of Thomas and Angela Strussion in Belmont County, Ohio. He was reportedly connected to the couple through their restaurant business.
2. What is Andrew Griffin accused of doing?
He is accused of killing the Strussions and setting fire to their home. Griffin has pleaded not guilty.
3. Were Thomas and Angela Strussion business partners with Griffin?
Griffin had business ties to the Strussions and was associated with a Salsa Joe’s restaurant operation. Prosecutors say the relationship later ended in a dispute over money and control.
4. When did the Strussions die?
The couple was found dead on September 21, 2021, after a fire at their home in Belmont County, Ohio.
5. What is the “mystery phone” in the case?
It is a cellphone prosecutors say was activated shortly before the killings and became inactive on the morning the victims were found. The defense disputes the significance of the phone evidence.
6. Where was Griffin arrested?
Griffin was arrested in Hawaii in February 2025 and later extradited to Ohio.
7. What charges remain in the trial?
The remaining charges include two counts of aggravated murder, two aggravated-murder firearm specifications and aggravated arson, according to trial coverage.
8. Has Andrew Griffin been convicted?
No. As of October 27, 2026, the trial is still in progress. Griffin remains presumed innocent unless the prosecution proves the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Andrew Griffin case centers on a former business relationship that prosecutors say ended in a deadly dispute. The state’s case relies on alleged financial motives, witness statements and cellphone evidence, while the defense argues that those pieces do not directly connect Griffin to the crime. Until the trial concludes, the accusations should not be treated as established fact.
