Thomas Baird:1970, Boardman, Ohio

 


    Thomas Baird was born on August 16th, 1955. He lived on Afton Avenue in Boardman, Ohio. He attended Boardman High School. Their mascot is a Spartan. Thomas was a nice looking 15year old Freshman in 1970. 


  On December 3rd, 1970, someone discovered a young man badly beaten with most of his clothes torn off on Lake Park Road. That’s not a long stretch of road and most of the businesses there are industrial. There’s also a large cemetery nearby. Other individuals from a nearby roller rink were asked to call an ambulance. 


   The young victim was Thomas Baird. He was still clinging to life and was transported to the hospital. On December 13th, 1970, Thomas Baird passed away from his injuries. He regained consciousness only once during his stay at the hospital. Investigators who were on guard in his hospital room asked him if he knew who did this to him. He indicated that he did but was unable to say any more. 


   Thomas Baird’s classmates memorialized him in their 1971 yearbook. His murder investigation went cold. Thomas Baird’s murder is still unsolved. 

Lake Park Road is on the upper right side of the map.
Thomas Baird lived on Afton in the center of the photo. Suspect Joseph N. Hill lived on Shadyside.


   Joseph Norman Hill lived on Shadyside Drive in Boardman, Ohio. (Looking at a map of Boardman shows us that Shadyside Drive and Lake Park Road aren’t that far apart.) Hill drove a delivery truck for a bottled water company. He was a seemingly average married family man. Hill was 30 years old in 1970. 




   In 1978 Joseph Norman Hill moved to San Bernardino County, California. He moved 14 times while living in California. He died in 2019. 


   In 2022, DNA and genetic genealogy techniques would be used to track down the killer of a young boy named Brad Lee Bellino. That killer would be none other than Joseph Norman Hill. 


  On March 31st, 1972 Brad Lee Bellino was sexually assaulted and strangled with a belt. He was left in a dumpster behind a dairy store in a shopping center in Boardman, Ohio. 


   Investigators believe that Joseph Norman Hill may be responsible for more murders in the Boardman and Youngstown, Ohio area. 


   If you have information about the murder of Thomas Baird or information about Joseph Norman Hill please call investigators at (330) 726-4144.


Rest in Peace Thomas


  


  


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