Janice Lee Zanolli, a 65-year-old woman from Masury, Ohio, was found dead in her home on March 1, 2025, during a welfare check. Authorities believe she was killed three days earlier, on February 26, 2025. Janice, who was born on March 4, 1959, in Sharon, Pennsylvania, had spent her life working as a store manager and was known for her love of reading, music, and the Chicago Bears.
Police discovered Janice in a bedroom with a gunshot wound to the head. Her 61-year-old brother, John Zanolli, was found in another room holding a rifle to his face. Officers negotiated with him for about 30 minutes before using a stun gun to take him into custody. John was charged with aggravated murder and remains in the Trumbull County Jail. Authorities suspect that probate issues following their father’s death in 2024 may have contributed to the tragic incident.
Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding Janice’s death, including potential financial disputes within the family. John, who had no prior criminal record, is scheduled to be arraigned in Trumbull County Eastern District Court. The community mourns the loss of Janice, remembering her as a kind-hearted individual who will be deeply missed.
