About
The Case
Liberty Township, Ohio — August 1–2, 2017
On the morning of August 1, 2017, Lori Lynn left her home in Ravenna, Ohio to pick up her mother, Wanda Pullin, in Liberty Township, Ohio. She was picking up her mother to take her to the Trumbull County Court House in order to file property records. On the way to her mother’s house, Lori called her mother several times but was not able to make contact. She pulled into her mother’s residence and parked in the driveway.
Cameras on the residence show Lori getting out of her vehicle, walking up to the residence, and unlocking the door to let herself in. Several minutes later, we see Lori on camera for the last time. She was leaving the residence and getting back into her vehicle. She was seen driving back toward the road, out of view of the cameras. Her mother was not home.
Lori left the residence most likely to find her mother. It is speculated she would contact relatives who may know where her mother was. She was gone for approximately 30 minutes when her car returned. Her car did not pull into the driveway but instead went around behind the residence, over the grass, and was found the next day behind the barn. The route taken by her car appears to have avoided the security cameras installed on the front of the residence. Her car was found parked behind the barn, in an area strewn with glass and construction debris — an area out of character for where she would have chosen to park a vehicle she had just bought.
Lori Lynn
Several phone calls by concerned family members started in the evening and continued into the early morning hours. The family frantically attempted to locate Lori. The next morning, Lori’s car was found by two family members behind the barn. After locating the car, they noticed that the tractor and brush hog were missing. The two family members followed the trail where the grass had been mowed. A short time later, the tractor was found in one of the family ponds. Lori was on the tractor, her face submerged in the pond.
Lori had recently retired from Teamsters Local 66, Operating Engineers, after 30 years as a heavy equipment operator. She had retired only the year before and had decided to treat herself to a new vehicle, which she had recently washed — making it more improbable that she would have parked it in a debris pile.
“There is no way Lori could have driven the tractor into the family pond. Absolutely no way.”
— a fellow operating engineer who worked alongside her
Unaware of the cameras on the residence, the Liberty Township Police Department initially ruled the death a farm accident. Lori’s daughters made several frantic 911 calls because they were concerned that foul play was involved. Despite offering to assist, Lori’s daughters were never interviewed. The Trumbull County Coroner initially ruled the cause of death “Under Investigation.” Six months later, the Coroner ruled Lori’s death a homicide.
The Business Journal — profile of Lori as an equipment operator
Initial Ruling
Farm Accident
Coroner, Six Months Later
Ruled a Homicide
Case Status
Unsolved
If You Know Something
Please come forward
A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Lori’s killer. Tips can be shared by phone or submitted online, and may be left anonymously.
(330) 539-9830