Affidavit: Murder Suspect Told Friends, Family That Wife Joined Cult

Gary Stroud's wife, Diane Stroud, had not been seen for six weeks .

During this time, Gary Stroud told his family and neighbors that she had left him and joined a cult, according to the affidavit Mentor-on-the-Lake Police filed in Lake County Court of Common Pleas.

The affidavit, which police filed so they could search Stroud's house, revealed some new details .

Specifically, Peter and Jean Gammiere -- neighbors who live across the street from the Strouds -- said that Gary and Diane had been having marital problems, according to the affidavit.

Additionally, the affidavit elaborates on the lengths that somebody went to hide Diane Stroud's body. Her body was encased in a sleeping bag with a garbage bag pulled over her head that was secured with duct tape. Then the sleeping bag was covered with a tarp that was also held down with duct tape, according to the affidavit.

Finally, both a bag of lime and a bottle of bleach were found near the body.

Lake County Coroner Lynn Smith said that Diane Stroud died from blunt force trauma. Stroud was a Mentor-on-the-Lake City Councilwoman from 1996 to 2003, including one year as council president.

Police were called to the house Sunday after a family member smelled something rotting in the garage. Gary Stroud told the family member it was a dying animal, according to the affidavit.

But the family member was suspicious enough that she called police and when officers searched the garage, they found Diane Stroud's body.

Mentor-on-the-Lake Police . Tuesday morning in .

more than five years ago. Since then, he has worked for the Lake County Sheriff's Office part time as a special deputy.

He provided court security, helped deliver papers, escorted clerical employees to the bank and did other odd jobs, Dunlap said.

Stroud was laid off by the department in September -- not because he was remiss in his work but because of financial necessities, Dunlap said.

Stroud's house was foreclosed on in October, according to Lake County Court of Common Pleas records, but it has not been sold yet.

The affidavit is attached to this story as a PDF.

Other stories pertaining to the case: