A Tragic Discovery in a Quiet Township
Howland Township, Ohio — A community is grappling with shock and sorrow after Leonard James Roosa, 33, and his 8-year-old son, Leonard Lee Roosa, were found dead inside a home on the 5000 block of Mines Road Monday night. The heartbreaking discovery was made just after 9 p.m., when a distraught caller told dispatchers that the deceased were his son and grandson.
According to police reports, the Roosas, who lived in Garrettsville, Ohio, in Portage County, had been at the vacant Howland Township property — reportedly working on the home — when tragedy struck. Neighbors told local news that the residence had been empty for some time, making the incident even more baffling.
Unanswered Questions and Lingering Grief
The Trumbull County Coroner, Dr. Lawrence D’Amico, confirmed the identities of the victims but said the cause and manner of death are still pending further investigation. For now, the details surrounding what happened remain clouded in uncertainty, leaving family members and the community with more questions than answers.
The unknowns weigh heavily on the hearts of those closest to the Roosa family. How could a seemingly ordinary day end in such devastation? What chain of events led to the loss of both a father and his young son in the same moment? These questions haunt loved ones as they wait for clarity from investigators. The silence is deafening, and the grief is overwhelming.
A Father and Son Remembered
While investigators work to piece together the truth, friends and family are holding on to memories of Leonard James and Leonard Lee — a devoted father and a bright, joyful little boy. Those who knew them describe a close bond filled with laughter, shared hobbies, and countless small adventures. Leonard James was remembered as hardworking and dedicated, someone who wanted the best for his son. Young Leonard Lee, only 8 years old, was full of curiosity and energy, a child who brought light to every room he entered.
In the wake of their deaths, the Roosa family is surrounded by the love and support of neighbors, friends, and even strangers who have been moved by their story. Vigils and memorials are being planned to honor their memory, with the hope that sharing their lives — not just their tragic end — will bring comfort to those left behind.
As Howland Township waits for answers, the loss of Leonard James and Leonard Lee Roosa stands as a stark reminder of life’s fragility. No explanation can undo the heartbreak, but perhaps in time, the truth will bring some measure of peace to the grieving family
