A fatal shooting occurred at a residence in North Royalton on Tuesday night, resulting in the death of a man who was shot by his ex-husband. The ex-husband then took his own life, according to North Royalton police.
A 71-year-old man, Stefan Pascu, was discovered deceased at a residence located at 8920 Tiffany Drive, alongside his victims, Sorin Ciortan and Emilia Ciortan, also both 71 years old. The victims were reportedly the parents of Pascu's former spouse, according to information provided by Sergeant John Stolarski of the North Royalton police department.
A comprehensive investigation by 3News Investigates, utilizing court records and county records from Cuyahoga County, has uncovered a pattern of involvement in domestic violence court proceedings for Pascu spanning over two decades. Specifically, Pascu was involved in four separate cases, two of which involved marriages and the subsequent divorces, highlighting a history of domestic conflict. Furthermore, the residence where the murders took place was purchased by Pascu himself approximately 20 years prior to the tragic events.
At approximately 7:57 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10, a 911 call was made by a woman who reported that her ex-husband's vehicle was parked outside her parents' residence on Tiffany Drive, prompting her to contact authorities.
A caller informed emergency operators that she was unable to contact her parents and characterized her ex-husband as an unwelcome presence. Upon the arrival of responding officers, she cautioned them about her ex-husband's unstable nature and expressed concern that additional personnel would be required to ensure their safety.
A 911 operator inquired of the woman whether she had any information about the motivations behind Pascu's visit to the residence.
The individual celebrating their birthday reported that their ex-husband, who has been in the country for a month or less after returning from Romania, has been exhibiting unusual behavior. The two are divorced, and the ex-husband has been consistently aggressive and intrusive for over 10 years.
Stolarski suggested that the person's unstable state and the fact that it was a significant date, the birthday of someone he referred to, may have contributed to their actions.
Responding officers discovered an open main entrance and proceeded into the residence. Upon investigation, they located Sorin Ciortan on the upper level, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, and Emilia Ciortan in the dining area, also with a gunshot wound to the head.
Following the initial withdrawal of officers, the Southwest Law Enforcement Office's tactical unit was deployed to the scene. Upon conducting a thorough search, they discovered Pascu deceased in a ground floor room, with evidence suggesting a self-inflicted gunshot wound and a revolver located nearby.
According to Stolarski, Pascu had no prior criminal history and was not subject to any active protection orders at the time of the incident. Furthermore, there is no evidence to suggest that Pascu left a note or made any prior contact with family members or acquaintances.
Investigations by 3News have uncovered a history of Pascu's involvement in family law cases dating back to 2003, encompassing two marital unions and subsequent separations.
Public records indicate that Pascu acquired the property at 8920 Tiffany Drive on October 20, 2006, following the completion of his initial divorce and preceding his marriage to Ciortan's daughter by two days. Approximately two years later, in March 2008, Pascu incorporated this property into his written work.
Following his divorce in 2016, Pascu's name was deleted from the property records. His former spouse subsequently became the sole owner of the residence. Approximately four and a half months prior to the murders, in June, she transferred ownership of the property to herself and her new husband. Notably, the property was not her primary residence, with her parents reportedly residing there.
The investigation into the murders has not disclosed the identity of the individual involved, with the Ohio Bureau of Investigation working in conjunction to gather further information.
