John Phillips Jr.: Full Testimony, Into the Burning House in Griffin's Salsa Joe's Murders Trial

A volunteer assistant fire chief was at work across the road when the house filled with smoke. He went in through the back door with only a flashlight. This is State of Ohio v. Andrew Isaac Griffin, the Salsa Joe's murders. Tom Strussion and his wife Angela were killed in September 2021, and their house on Trails End Drive burned. Prosecutors allege Griffin, Tom's former Salsa Joe's partner, came back from Oklahoma, killed them both and set the fire. Griffin is presumed innocent, and his defense says this case is built on bought testimony. John Phillips Jr. works on cars and drives a tow truck at Stonebreakers Garage in Jacobsburg, Ohio. He has fought fires since he was about 18, and he is the assistant chief of the Smith Township volunteer department. On the morning of September 21, 2021, he got to the garage a little before 7, and it was still dark. Watch the order of that morning, because he lays it out one step at a time. A co-worker runs into the office saying the house across the road is on fire. Two men from the garage drive up, pound on the front door and lean on the horn. He walks up behind them and calls 911. The front door is locked. One of them breaks out a window, and all he can see through the glass is smoke. He goes back down to his truck for his fire radio, because a volunteer does not keep his gear at work. Then a neighbor says he thinks the couple went on vacation, and the other two head back to the shop. He stays to help the fire crews from outside, and he goes around to the back of the house alone. Listen closely to what he says about that back door, and to what his flashlight showed him once he got down low. Here is what I want you to weigh. He was the first person inside, and he moved her. In his words, "I reached out and grabbed her foot and just started pulling out." He also told the jury, "there was a little blood I noticed, but I just assumed I guess that she had maybe fell or something." The front door was locked, and the back door opened. After him came about a dozen firefighters and maybe five trucks, and he puts the water at around three thousand gallons. So keep one question with you for the rest of this trial: when investigators describe that house, how much of it is the scene as it was left, and how much was changed by the rescue and the fight to put the fire out? The defense asked him nothing at all. I'll give you my read on the scale at the end, and remember, we are not the jury. Only the jurors decide. --- WATCH WITH JUSTICE 0:00 What this video is, and a preview 0:15 Intro 0:52 Video starts: A volunteer fire chief walks the jury up to the burning house 5:49 Around to the back door alone, with a flashlight 12:25 Who did this witness help? My scale CASE BACKGROUND REPORT: https://justiceisaprocess.com/oh-v-an... Complete case overview including the charges, the timeline, the key players, and the legal questions this trial raises. State of Ohio v. Andrew Isaac Griffin. Belmont County Court of Common Pleas, St. Clairsville, Ohio, Judge Chris Berhalter presiding. Griffin is charged with aggravated murder in the September 2021 deaths of Thomas and Angela Strussion, who were found shot in their home near Belmont after it was set on fire, along with aggravated arson, aggravated burglary and firearm specifications. Tom Strussion was his former business partner in a Salsa Joe's restaurant. Griffin has pleaded not guilty. Opening statements are set for October 26, 2026. He is presumed innocent unless and until the State proves each charge beyond a reasonable doubt. PLAYLISTS AND RESOURCES Website: https://justiceisaprocess.com/coverag... Full Trial Live Broadcasts:    • Ohio v. Andrew Griffin: Full Trial Live Br...   No Breaks Edition:    • Ohio v. Andrew Griffin: No Breaks Edition   Trial Analysis Podcast:    • Ohio v. Andrew Griffin: Case Story Trial P...   Key Moments and Testimony:    • Ohio v. Andrew Griffin: Key Moments & Test...   Commentary:    • Ohio v. Andrew Griffin: Commentary   Subscribe for Daily Coverage:    / @justiceisaprocess   FAIR USE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE This content is produced under Fair Use (17 U.S.C. 107) for news reporting, criticism, and educational purposes. We provide transformative commentary on public court proceedings, advancing public understanding of the judicial process through timestamps, analysis, and educational context. #JusticeIsAProcess #SalsaJoesMurders #AndrewGriffin