Marion Bugdal Jr., a 52-year-old man from Youngstown, OH, was tragically shot to death on July 6, 2017. Bugdal had been complaining about a man named Alex New, who had been harassing and robbing him. On the day of his death, Bugdal was seen carrying a pipe he had found and asked a neighbor if he could turn it into a gun. However, he decided against it due to fear of it exploding. Later that day, Bugdal confronted New, who had broken into his home, believing Bugdal had gold bars.
During the confrontation, New shot Bugdal multiple times, leading to his death.
Bugdal's body was discovered two days later in his burned-out home on the East Side of Youngstown. Police arrested Alex New, along with two accomplices, Johnnathen Figueroa and Fred Nolasco, on charges of aggravated murder. New was accused of being the triggerman, while Figueroa and Nolasco were charged as accomplices. Figueroa later pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and agreed to testify against New as part of a plea deal. Nolasco was found incompetent to stand trial due to intellectual disabilities.
The case highlighted issues with how Bugdal's complaints about New were handled by the police. Despite Bugdal's repeated reports of harassment and robbery, New was not charged with any crime until after Bugdal's death. This led to questions about the effectiveness of the police response to Bugdal's concerns.
In the end, Alex New pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery, while Figueroa received a four-year prison sentence for his role in the crime. Nolasco remains under court jurisdiction due to his inability to stand trial.
Bugdal's death was a tragic end to a series of events that began with harassment and escalated to a fatal confrontation. His case serves as a reminder of the importance of taking complaints seriously and ensuring that justice is served promptly and effectively.
