The prayer vigil was tribute to Matthew Lindsey Anatra, 63, and Lisa Renee Anatra, 61, who were found dead Nov. 19 in their home at 722 North Henry Street in Crestline.
Maxwell Lindsey Anatra will not face the death penalty.
State attorneys made that decision after consulting with family members, according to Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall.
The 24-year-old, who is accused of murdering his parents at their Crestline home on Nov. 19, instead could spend the rest of his life behind bars, if convicted.
"Since there were two victims, two life sentences," Crall said. "The maximum is two life sentences plus 61½ years."
A Crawford County grand jury has returned an 11-count indictment against the man: Two counts of unclassified felony aggravated murder, two counts of unclassified felony murder, four counts of first-degree felony aggravated burglary (one with a gun specification), two counts of third-degree felony theft of a firearm (one with a gun specification) and one count of third-degree felony tampering with evidence (also with a gun specification).
Anatra is scheduled for arraignment at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 3 in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.
Death penalty could become possible with new indictment
Designating a case for the possibility of the death penalty is "like putting it on a different path," the prosecutor explained.
"Different requirements have to be met," Crall said.
He added that "it's always possible" that choice could change, putting the death penalty back on the table.
"It would have to be a different indictment," Crall said. "We'd have to go back to the grand jury."
The case is still being investigated by the Crawford County Sheriff's Office, the Crestline Police Department, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Wyandot County Sheriff's Office, the Crawford County Coroner, the Lucas County Coroner's Office and the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
"I would urge the community to allow the investigation, which is ongoing, to be completed and allow the judicial system to serve its purpose," Crall said.
Visiting judge Daniel Hogan will hear the case
Anatra will face Judge Daniel T. Hogan, who is visiting from Franklin County and was appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court.
"The case will be heard by a visiting judge since one of the victims was employed by the court," Crall said.
The defendant is accused of murdering his parents, Matthew Lindsey Anatra, 63, and Lisa Renee Anatra, 61.
Officers from the Crestline Police Department found the couple dead the morning of Nov. 19 when they visited their home at 722 North Henry Street for a welfare check.
Family told detectives that the couple's youngest son, Max, "had been at the scene the night before, but family had not been able to contact him."
By 10 a.m. Nov. 19, a coworker called 911 and reported Lisa had not shown up for work, "and they thought they (had) seen blood at her residence."
Officers found the woman's body inside the home and her husband's in a detached garage.
Records from the Crawford County Municipal Court list the crime as taking place Nov. 18, the night before police found the two victims.
Canadian officials took Maxwell Lindsey Anatra, 24, into custody about 5:30 p.m. Nov. 19 after he fled across the border.
By the evening of Nov. 23, a Sunday, an untold number of grieving residents gathered around the gazebo at The Hub At Village Square in Crestline, a town with about 4,500 residents, to pay their respects.
That night, Sam, the oldest son of the murdered couple, thanked everyone for supporting himself and his extended family.
"This turnout is absolutely incredible, and it just goes to show how much my parents meant to not only me, my family and their loved ones, but this community as a whole," Sam Anatra said. "So again, just thank you. And please continue to keep us in your prayers. It helps more than you know. So, thank you. Thank you."
'I want to live a successful life and have a beautiful family'
Max Anatra, who was born Feb. 8, 2001, was known for being a student athlete at Crestline High School. He played three sports for the Bulldogs, lettering in football, basketball and track.
During the summer of 2019, shortly after he graduated, the Community Foundation for Crawford County awarded Anatra two scholarships: the Merle and Peg Hutson Scholarship and the Richard A. Miller Scholarship.
The foundation noted in an Aug. 18, 2019, news release that Anatra would attend Bowling Green State University to study physical therapy.
"I plan to go to postgraduate school and be a happy person," he said at the time. "I want to live a successful life and have a beautiful family."