Kirtland man deported to Croatia
Two-decade fight to stay in U.S. ends

Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Plain Dealer

Frane Pesut spent a dozen years in prison for his role in a terrorist hijacking that ultimately resulted in the death of a New York police detective.

He spent even longer living in Euclid and then Kirtland after his release, without many in Northeast Ohio knowing about his crime. Pesut, 56, finally was forced from Northeast Ohio last month and deported to his native Croatia, ending a nearly two-decade battle to remain in the United States.

During that time, Pesut married, started a family and seemed to find a home here. Few people outside of Cleveland's tight-knit Croatian community seem to be aware of Pesut's past. His family would like to keep it that way. More....