VERMILION — No arrests have been made in the homicide of a Vermilion tree service owner who was shot in the head early Wednesday.

Vermilion police Chief Bob Kish said investigators are working on several theories in the death of 36-year-old Jeremy Simko but will have to wait for evidence to be sorted and analyzed so they have a better idea of what happened.

Kish said there’s “literally truckloads” of evidence, much of which has been turned over to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, the state’s crime lab.

“I don’t know how long it will take,” Kish said. “As soon as we get what’s called probable cause, we’ll make an arrest.”

Among the evidence that needs to be reviewed by BCI, Kish said, is footage from security cameras Simko and his wife, Julene Simko, had attached to the outside of their home. Police also recovered several guns from the home, but Kish declined to discuss what kind of firearm was used to kill Simko.

A sobbing Julene Simko called 911 just after 6 a.m. Wednesday and told a dispatcher that her husband had been shot in the front of the head and that he was on their bed.

Although much of the call is unintelligible, Julene Simko can be heard telling the dispatcher that “somebody shot my husband” and that someone was in their house. She also said on the tape that the doors of their home were locked and gave permission for police to force their way into the house.

As a dispatcher is talking Julene Simko through CPR, she tells the dispatcher that Jeremy Simko is blue and that he isn’t breathing.

The house where police spent two days collecting evidence was quiet Friday, although crime scene tape could still be seen wrapped around a fence post near signs warning people to beware of dogs.

Two women feeding several German shepherds at the home, at 2001 North Ridge Road, declined to comment Friday.

A neighbor, who asked that her name not be used, described the Simkos, who ran Simko Tree Service, as ambitious and energetic.

“It’s kind of unspeakable,” she said of the death of Jeremy Simko, which Lorain County Coroner Paul Matus ruled a homicide on Thursday.

Jack Bradley, Julene Simko’s attorney, said he doesn’t know much yet about the case. Vermilion police haven’t given him much information yet, he said.

Julene Simko is still dealing with the death of her husband, and he hasn’t had extensive conversations with her either, Bradley said.

“In these types of situations, I always think it’s smart for a spouse to get legal counsel when there’s been a death in the home,” he said.

Contact Brad Dicken at 329-7147 or bdicken@chroniclet.com.

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