Story and Video: Detectives couldn’t find match to fingerprints found in Strussion home after double homicide
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Belmont County Sheriff's Office Detective Sgt. Jordan Blumling took the stand for the second time in the Andrew Isaac Griffin double homicide trial, testifying Thursday about unmatched fingerprints found at Thomas and Angela Strussion’s home, located on Trails End Drive near Belmont.
Griffin stands accused of murdering former business partner Thomas Strussion and Thomas’ wife, Angela Strussion inside their home in September 2021.
Blumling said Thursday during the investigation fingerprints were found on four money bags, three bundles of receipts, a saucepan, four doorknobs and a wooden box.
"As the investigation progressed and we found persons of interest that could be relevant, we submitted their fingerprints for analysis with the fingerprint that’s listed on the report," Blumling said.
Belmont County Assistant Prosecutor Joe Vavra asked Blumling if he was optimistic about the fingerprints turning up any significant suspects once they were discovered. Blumling said due to the chaotic nature of the scene on Sept. 21, 2021, he was not.
"There was fire, water, a variety of environmental factors that made it very challenging for this type of forensic evidence," Blumling said.
He added once the fingerprints were collected, he tested them against various people of interest.
The first two the prints were tested against were Anthony Dibacco and Miana Smith, two individuals who were part of another investigation involving the extortion of the Strussuions. Dibacco was sentenced for the extortion in 2021 with Smith being sentenced in 2022. Both received three years in prison for the extortion but were found to not be involved with the murders.
Blumling then tested the fingerprints against several people of interest, but none came through as a match. Griffin, Brett Cole and Dalton Ray's fingerprints were also tested against the prints found inside of the home, but none of them were matches.
In 2025, Ray was convicted of obstruction of justice involving the Strussions’ murder. Cole is Griffin's former life-long friend who is set to testify against him in the double homicide trial.
Vavra asked Blumling if a match was ever found to the fingerprints, to which he replied that there was not.
Blumling then spoke about a gun belonging to Wilbur Barr tested to see if it matched the bullets found in the Strussions and he said the bullets did not match Barr's gun.
"During your investigation, when you indicate that Mr. Griffin became a person of interest. Investigative steps were taken, correct?" Vavra asked Blumling.
He replied, yes.
"At a certain point, did you apply for a wiretap warrant for Mr. Griffin?" Vavra then asked.
Blumling confirmed he did and said he actually drew up two separate warrants, one from July 2024 to August 2024 and one from September 2024 to October 2024.
"Ultimately, [through] working in connection with the telecommunications provider, they set up a link for what’s called a trap and trace and a wire tap interception program, it routes the call through the network. So it’s kind of like if it got two people on one each end, you’re the person in the middle. So they call it the man in the middle," Blumling said. “I’m the interception person. I’m the man in the middle."
During the various wire taps, Griffin spoke to several friends and family members about his ex-wife Stacee Griffin's allegations that he abused, kidnapped and raped her.
According to KOTV News 6 in Tulsa Oklahoma, Griffin was arrested in a Houston Texas airport while deboarding a plane from Honduras in 2023. At the time, he was charged with kidnapping and domestic violence.
"I dated this person for eight years. OK, for eight years and some change, and I don’t have a speeding ticket on my record. I don’t have anything on my record at all, and never been in any kind of trouble. I’ve always had a really good job, owned a business or two. I’ve always gone to extreme lengths. I mean, I pay my tithe at church and I pay my taxes. You know," Griffin is heard saying to an unidentified woman. "I feed hungry children when they’re hungry. You know, I make sure I buy clothes for kids that don’t have clothes, and so so I’m out of the United States, and I have to hire this this attorney that. a really good attorney, and I was on the phone with him like, dude, I don’t know what to do about this. I’m like not having this. Like, I don’t know what she’s doing or what she’s capable of doing."
He added the lawyer he hired informed him he needed to return from Honduras, which he did.
"Well, I had to go to court. They threw out the kidnapping, and then she said that she said that I raped her. But then she said, well, actually, we didn’t have sex. He fondled me," Griffin said on the wiretap. "Then she changed it from fondling, to saying that I kissed her on her cheek and neck while we were married, and she didn’t want that. So it said that I kissed her, my wife, on the cheek and neck while we were married, and it was just like literally the stupidest, craziest, crappiest things that I can imagine happening."
Griffin is then heard talking to his mother about Stacee's claims.
On the call, his mother says she is praying that he will get through the current situation.
Griffin then jokingly referenced the 2010 Jaron Lowenstein song "Pray For You" which is a tongue and cheek song about praying for the worst for your ex-partner.
He then said he is going to pray she dies before stopping and says he doesn't actually mean it and felt bad for saying it.
Following saying he didn't actually want his ex-wife dead, he informed his mother that if he receives any jail time due to Stacee's allegations, his mother will never see him again.
"Her entire existence will be gone, and everybody that’s attached to her will be gone," Griffin said. "Everybody that talks to her will be gone and I’ll be gone with them."
He added if he gets convicted for what his ex-wife is alleging, his name would never be "good."
"Everybody will have a bullet right through their [expletive] heads," Griffin said.
The fifth day of Griffin's trial will begin Friday at 9 a.m. in Belmont County Common Pleas Court.