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| Ohio 'Craigslist killer' should face death penalty, jury recommends | Ohio 'Craigslist killer' should face death penalty, jury recommends |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| An Ohio jury has recommended the death penalty for a self-styled street preacher convicted of killing three down-and-out men lured by bogus Craigslist job offers. | An Ohio jury has recommended the death penalty for a self-styled street preacher convicted of killing three down-and-out men lured by bogus Craigslist job offers. |
| Richard Beasley, 53, was convicted of teaming up with a teenager in 2011 to lure men with offers of farmhand jobs in south-east Ohio and then rob them. Three men were killed, and a fourth who was wounded testified at Beasley's trial. | Richard Beasley, 53, was convicted of teaming up with a teenager in 2011 to lure men with offers of farmhand jobs in south-east Ohio and then rob them. Three men were killed, and a fourth who was wounded testified at Beasley's trial. |
| The judge set his sentencing for Tuesday. Victims' relatives hugged as the recommendation was announced on Wednesday. Beasley hung his head without moving, and his mother sobbed. | The judge set his sentencing for Tuesday. Victims' relatives hugged as the recommendation was announced on Wednesday. Beasley hung his head without moving, and his mother sobbed. |
| Jack Kern, whose 47-year-old son, Timothy, was killed, alternately cried and smiled over the jury's recommendation. | Jack Kern, whose 47-year-old son, Timothy, was killed, alternately cried and smiled over the jury's recommendation. |
| "They made the right decision," he said outside court. "They knew what they had in their heart and what they had to do. They did it for us." | "They made the right decision," he said outside court. "They knew what they had in their heart and what they had to do. They did it for us." |
| The jurors left without commenting. | The jurors left without commenting. |
| Beasley's co-defendant, who was 16 at the time of the crimes, was too young to face the death penalty. Brogan Rafferty was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole on his conviction last year. | Beasley's co-defendant, who was 16 at the time of the crimes, was too young to face the death penalty. Brogan Rafferty was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole on his conviction last year. |
| In closing arguments, both sides highlighted Rafferty's life sentence in contrast to a possible death sentence for Beasley. The defense said that issue should factor into the jury's deliberations, but the prosecution said it wasn't an issue because Rafferty's age, by law, had ruled out death as an option. | In closing arguments, both sides highlighted Rafferty's life sentence in contrast to a possible death sentence for Beasley. The defense said that issue should factor into the jury's deliberations, but the prosecution said it wasn't an issue because Rafferty's age, by law, had ruled out death as an option. |
| The jury received Beasley's case after hearing two hours of testimony from witnesses, including Beasley's tearful mother, who were called to portray him sympathetically and press for leniency. | The jury received Beasley's case after hearing two hours of testimony from witnesses, including Beasley's tearful mother, who were called to portray him sympathetically and press for leniency. |
| Carol Beasley testified that her son had a troubled childhood and had suffered physical abuse by his stepfather. She also said she learned within the past year that her son had been sexually abused by neighborhood youngsters. | Carol Beasley testified that her son had a troubled childhood and had suffered physical abuse by his stepfather. She also said she learned within the past year that her son had been sexually abused by neighborhood youngsters. |
| "I always felt there was much more than he told me," she said. As she testified, Beasley slumped forward, his chin on his chest and his right hand covering his eyes. He uses a wheelchair because of back pain. | "I always felt there was much more than he told me," she said. As she testified, Beasley slumped forward, his chin on his chest and his right hand covering his eyes. He uses a wheelchair because of back pain. |
| The defense also called a psychologist, John Fabian, who testified that Beasley suffers from depression, alcohol abuse, low self-esteem and a feeling of isolation, all possible results of a troubled, abusive childhood. Prosecutor Jonathan Baumoel had urged jurors to consider the "enormous" weight of Beasley's crimes as they considered his punishment. | The defense also called a psychologist, John Fabian, who testified that Beasley suffers from depression, alcohol abuse, low self-esteem and a feeling of isolation, all possible results of a troubled, abusive childhood. Prosecutor Jonathan Baumoel had urged jurors to consider the "enormous" weight of Beasley's crimes as they considered his punishment. |
| One of Beasley's victims was killed near Akron, and the others were shot at a south-east Ohio farm during bogus job interviews. | One of Beasley's victims was killed near Akron, and the others were shot at a south-east Ohio farm during bogus job interviews. |
| The men were Ralph Geiger, 56, of Akron; David Pauley, 51, of Norfolk, Virginia; and Kern, of Massillon. All were down-and-out men looking for a fresh start in life, the prosecution said repeatedly during the trial. | The men were Ralph Geiger, 56, of Akron; David Pauley, 51, of Norfolk, Virginia; and Kern, of Massillon. All were down-and-out men looking for a fresh start in life, the prosecution said repeatedly during the trial. |
| The survivor, Scott Davis, now 49, testified that he heard the click of a gun as he walked in front of Beasley at the reputed job site. Davis, who was shot in an arm, knocked the weapon aside, fled into the woods and tipped police. | The survivor, Scott Davis, now 49, testified that he heard the click of a gun as he walked in front of Beasley at the reputed job site. Davis, who was shot in an arm, knocked the weapon aside, fled into the woods and tipped police. |
| Beasley, who returned to Ohio from Texas in 2004 after serving several years in prison on a burglary conviction, testified that he met with Davis and Davis had pulled a gun in retaliation for Beasley serving as a police informant in a motorcycle gang investigation. | Beasley, who returned to Ohio from Texas in 2004 after serving several years in prison on a burglary conviction, testified that he met with Davis and Davis had pulled a gun in retaliation for Beasley serving as a police informant in a motorcycle gang investigation. |
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