The Trumbull County Coroner has determined that an elderly Niles woman died from blunt force head trauma.


Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk also ruled that the death of 94-year-old Marie Belcastro was a homicide.


Authorities on Thursday released the audio recording of the 9-1-1 call made by the victim's daughter who discovered her mother's body at her Cherry Avenue home late Tuesday afternoon.


The recording reveals that the daughter found blood scattered throughout the home, which she tells the dispatcher appeared to have been ransacked.


She also told the dispatcher at the time that she believed her mother was dead. A relative living nearby knew something was wrong when Belcastro's daughter told her what was going on.

"She didn't, couldn't tell me exactly, she was too shook up, but it's a nightmare, worse than a nightmare," Janis Durig said, Belcastro's niece.

Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins says he is seeking to have a 15-year-old neighbor charged with aggravated murder as an adult in the case.

Jacob Larosa was arrested the night of the murder and remains in juvenile detention awaiting another court hearing.

21 News learned more about Larosa's troubled past. Niles police released all reports containing criminal allegations and charges from Jacob LaRosa's past run-ins with the law.

In one case, Larosa was charged with domestic violence in June of 2014. He was accused of throwing a large candle inside a glass jar at his sister's forehead. She received medical treatment for a 3 inch laceration.

Although police have placed crime scene tape around the victim's home, people continue leaving stuffed animals, flowers and votive candles at a memorial on the property.

Stay connected with 21 News and wfmj.com for the latest in this developing story.