John A. Utlak, a 26-year-old male police officer of the Niles Police Department in Ohio, was tragically shot and killed on December 8, 1982. He was killed during an undercover narcotics investigation in the parking lot of the Gibraltar Steel Corporation in Mineral Ridge, Ohio. Utlak was meeting with two suspects, Fred Joseph Jr., 17, and Randy Fellows, 18, when he was shot three times with a .22 caliber handgun by Joseph.
His body was discovered the next day in the parking lot.
The suspects, Fellows and Joseph, fled the state but were later apprehended in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Fellows initially denied involvement but later confessed to the crime, admitting that the murder was premeditated. Both suspects were convicted of aggravated murder and sentenced to 30 years to life in prison with eligibility for parole after serving 30 years. Fellows' parole has been denied multiple times, and he remains incarcerated. Joseph, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, has also been denied parole but is scheduled for another hearing in 2026 due to a recently passed state law allowing juvenile offenders more chances at parole.
The case remains a poignant memory in the community, with Utlak's name honored by naming a street near the Niles Safety and Services Building after him. His family, including his parents, two sisters, and step-parents, continue to remember his dedication and sacrifice.
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