Man pleads not guilty to murder

SANDUSKY — A man accused of killing a Sandusky resident pleaded not guilty. Curtis J. Thomas, 34, of Kenton, Ohio, was arraigned Friday on an aggravated murder charge in Sandusky Municipal Court, according to court records. On July 10, city resident Elisha Cannon, 34, was discovered in a car on South Larchmont Drive with multiple gunshot wounds. He later succumbed to his injuries and died at a local hospital. No suspects were initially identified, and only a car was seen fleeing the area. But police were able to find the car a day later abandoned in Seneca County. A search warrant was executed on the car, which was reported stolen, and police connected it to Thomas and city resident Shakill O. Fenderson, 27, Sandusky police Chief Jared Oliver said. Thomas and Fenderson were arrested on July 16 after being found walking along Ohio 18 in Seneca County. Fenderson, who faces a conspiracy to commit aggravated murder charge, is scheduled to be arraigned at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Sandusky Municipal Court. Thomas is scheduled for a preliminary hearing set for 11 a.m. on Aug. 3 in Sandusky Municipal Court. Both men are incarcerated at Erie County jail on $1 million bonds.