Man who confessed to slaying gets 25 years
A Columbus man was being detained for shoplifting at a Highland County grocery store 14 months ago when he confessed to a far more serious crime.
Nicholas Loulakis, 28, told Hillsboro police that he had killed a man in Columbus.
On Thursday, Loulakis was sentenced in Franklin County Common Pleas Court to 25 years in prison for the stabbing death of Terry Wilt, 63.
He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence. Judge Mark Serrott imposed the maximum sentence for the offenses, which was recommended by prosecuting and defense attorneys as part of a plea agreement.
Loulakis was homeless at the time of the crime, with friends having kicked him out of the house where he was staying.
On Oct. 4, 2016, he wound up at a South Side bar, where he met Wilt, Assistant Prosecutor Erica Rose said.
While at the bar, Loulakis learned that Wilt was gay. Although Loulakis isn’t gay, he eventually told Wilt that he would “play” if Wilt let him stay at his home. After they arrived at Wilt’s mobile home in the 1200 block of Fairwood Avenue, Loulakis stabbed Wilt repeatedly and stole his car and credit cards, Rose said.
Three days later, Loulakis confessed when he was picked up for trying to steal vodka from a Kroger in Hillsboro.
An autopsy revealed 56 stab wounds on the victim’s body, Rose said. Loulakis also filled a pillowcase with evidence and tossed it from the stolen car as he fled, she said.
Loulakis made a brief statement in court, apologizing for his actions and attributing them to alcohol and drug addictions.
“I probably wouldn’t have made the decisions and the steps I took if I was sober,” he said. The federal holiday for Christmas is Monday. Because of the holiday:
City, county, state and federal offi ces will be closed.
There will be no regular mail delivery.
Parking meters in Columbus will be free.
There will be no trash collection in Columbus. The trash- color collection schedule will rotate forward one weekday until the next holiday, which will be New Year's Day, observed on Monday, Jan. 1.
Rumpke curbsiderecycling and yard-waste collection in Columbus will be delayed by one day. Friday's collection will be on Saturday.
Central Ohio Transit Authority buses will operate on a Sunday schedule. COTA's customer-service call center and its Pass Sales Office at 33 N. High St. will be closed.
All Columbus Metropolitan Library branches will be closed Saturday through Monday.
Columbus City Schools and other school districts will be closed.
Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College will be closed.