“The case is worked every day,” he repeated.
“Every day, our detectives are working it, and that’s not an exaggeration. Every single day.”
For three and a half years, that’s how Belmont County Sheriff James Zusack responded when asked for update on the investigation into the murders of Thomas and Angela Strussion. And he wasn’t fibbing either – that’s exactly how Chief Detective Ryan Allar and Detective-Sgt. Jordan Blumling operated for three-plus year since the couple were found murdered in their home on the final day of summer in 2021.
And when it was time to escort the indicted defendant – 33-year-old Andrew Griffin – into the Belmont County Jail during the morning of March 14th, there was Sheriff Zusack personally leading the suspected killer to the sally port and into incarceration.
“I needed to finish it on our end,” the sheriff explained in March. “I know there’s plenty of work to do from here until the trial, but this is a big deal for Belmont County, so it was the right thing to do.”
If Zusack has a mantra, that’s it word for word – “The right thing to do” – and it’s exactly how the man feels about every aspect of his duties as the sheriff of the county in which he grew up, went to school, where he and his wife raised their son, Logan, and where he has spent every moment of his professional law enforcement career. That’s because Zusack is a hands-on sheriff following a career that began in the early 1990s and included nine years as chief deputy before running unopposed as a Republican in 2024.
In fact, January 6th will be his one-year anniversary.
Zusack is an “open book,” too, who believes in transparency, and he continues to serve today in the same ways he did when a boy named Nathan Brooks threatened his life during a transport in 1995. He’s proper, believes in justice, supports and commends his staff members and deputies without fail, enjoys connecting with the kids of Belmont County, and protecting the people residing within his jurisdiction is on his mind, always.
Against drug dealers and drunk drivers, thieves and burglars, pedophiles and sex offenders, and against those perpetrating violent crimes like murder and rape and aggravated assault.
He still responds to calls, donates his time to local charities, stops to speak with anyone with a comment, a question, a doubt, or a difficulty, and yes, Zusack still goes fishing – especially in the spring. And when Belmont County’s sheriff is asked why he approved the appropriation to place “In God We Trust” on the tails of the county’s Sheriff’s Office cruisers, he predictably replied, “It was the right thing to do.”
And so was honoring Belmont County Sheriff James Zusak as LEDE’s 2025 Person of the Year.
About LEDE’s Person of the Year
Since LEDE News launched in October 2019, we have recognized an individual we have found deserving as our “Person of the Year” because of their success and their contributions to the Wheeling area community.
A perfect “poster girl” example is Christine McKnickle-Thomas for her “all in” community work as the marketing manager at Quaker Steak & Lube at The Highlands, and that’s why she was our first choice six years ago. Former Wheeling fire chief Larry Helms followed in 2020, and Ohio County Schools Superintendent Dr. Kim Miller (2021), advocate Crystal Bauer (2022), retired Ohio County 911 director Theresa Russell ( 2023), and Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder have followed because of their respective efforts to improve the quality of life in the Upper Ohio Valley.
