Death sentence for Craigslist killer upheld

The Ohio Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence for a man convicted of killing three down-andout men lured by fake Craigslist job offers.

The court ruled Friday in the case of death row inmate Richard Beasley. The 58-yearold Beasley was convicted of partnering with a teenage boy in 2011 to lure victims with promises of jobs on an Ohio farm.

The court rejected arguments by Beasley’s attorneys that he was denied a fair trial because a judge rejected requests to move the trial because of publicity, and that there wasn’t enough evidence to convict him.

The court ordered Beasley resentenced on noncapital charges, including attempted murder and robbery.

Defense attorney Donald Gallick said he was disappointed and planned an appeal in the federal courts. on the third-degree felony charge.

The crash that killed Davon Johnson of Cleveland happened about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday on St. Clair Avenue near East 79th Street. Johnson was crossing St. Clair in the crosswalk at the time of the crash.

Thomas drove a 1997 Ford box truck that slid out of control on the icy road, according to police. The truck crashed through a utility pole before it drove up onto the sidewalk. It struck a metal bus stop sign and two more utility poles, then went back onto the road and struck Johnson as he walked in the street, police said.

The box truck’s trailer ripped open, and two motorcycles inside fell from the truck and landed on Johnson, police said.

Thomas initially ran away after hitting Johnson, leaving a dog alone inside the truck, according to police. Thomas returned to the scene of the crash about an hour later and was arrested, according to police. The dog was taken by the city dog warden.

Johnson died in an ambulance on the way to University Hospitals, police reports say.

Thomas has a criminal history that includes 16 felony convictions since 1986. Those include convictions for theft, grand theft of a motor vehicle, drug possession, drug trafficking, vandalism, assaulting a police officer and felonious assault.

He also faces two felony drug trafficking charges in Ashtabula. Those cases are ongoing and have not been resolved. documents.

A grand jury will decide if the child’s mother, Samone Boykins, should be charged.

Police got a call from Moore on Nov. 17 on a report of a child who suffered burns at a home on Concord Avenue near Clark Street, police said.

Investigators said Moore put Brandon in a bath of scalding water, which caused burns on the lower part of his body. He died Nov. 22 at MetroHealth’s burn unit.

Moore later told investigators he put the boy in the bathtub, left the room and found him burned when he returned, police said.

Investigators also found bruising on Brandon’s face, hip and found a rib that was broken but in the process of healing.

Boykins was at work when her son was hurt, police said.

Her two other children told investigators Moore abused the boy in the past by punching him and grabbing his neck, police said.

They also told investigators Moore held one of Brandon’s feet while dangling him upside-down, police said. tigation a “rumor-seeking, undisciplined witch hunt.”