The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
54 YEARS TO LIFE
Lorain man sentenced for New Year’s Day murder
Marlon Johnson said on May 3 that God knows he didn’t kill Todd Dais before he was sentenced to 54 years to life in prison for the murder of the 45-year-old man.
Johnson, 42, of Lorain, was convicted by a jury April 20 of three counts of aggravated murder, three counts of murder, two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of felonious assault, two counts of weapons under disability and a single count of unlawful use of a firearm by a violent career criminal for the New Year’s Day slaying at a Lorain house.
Before the sentence was handed down, Kenneth N. Ortner, one of two court-appointed defense attorneys, moved for
“Whenever there’s a murder, there’s two families hurt — yours too.” — Frank Macarthy, Todd Dais’ uncle, to Marlon Johnson.
his client to be acquitted of the charges. A jury took about three hours to find Johnson guilty of those counts.
“The reason for that being because of the inconsistent statements by the witnesses that were made and the fact that much, if not all, of the scientific evidence did not corroborate the witness statements,” he said.
Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James L. Miraldi denied the motion, acknowledging the motion was made for appeals purposes.
When Johnson spoke on his own behalf, he turned to Dais’ family and said he did not shoot the man. He said the true triggerman was still “out there.”
“I feel for your family and I’m sorry for your loss, but I never killed Todd,” he said. “I never had a reason to. I never had an ill-will bone in my body towards him. He was all right with me.
“God knows it,” he said. “I know it and I’ll be back on appeal.”
Johnson openly wept while Dais’ sister, Patrice Dais, next addressed the court and said her young child will never get the chance to meet her brother.
“Todd will never be at my wedding,” she said barely holding back tears. “He was trying to change his life and he hit a rough patch, but now he’ll never have that opportunity.
“Todd is no longer breathing and I just feel like that’s unfair to us,” she continued. “None of this will bring him back. I know one day I will find it in my heart to forgive this senseless and selfish crime, but today probably won’t be that day.”
Frank Macarthy, Todd Dais’ uncle, officiated his nephew’s home-going, and said the death was tragic.
“Todd did make some choices in his life, probably should have made better choices, but none of the choices he made warranted the end of his life on Jan. 1 of this year.
“I came here today struggling between what my flesh wants to speak and what my spirit knows I must speak, because, as Patrice spoke, he was trying to change his life,” he continued. “At his homegoing, one of his cousins said that a few weeks before his death, Todd had made the most important decision that anyone can make: He gave his life to the Lord.
Turning to Johnson, Macarthy continued, saying he has prayed for him.
“I’ve done it every day,” he said. “I’m not praying that you’ll get out of the consequences for what happened on Jan. 1 of this year, but I must pray for your soul’s salvation. It’s so important.
“Whenever there’s a murder, there’s two families hurt — yours too,” he continued. “I’m praying for your family. Don’t let court proceedings keep you from repenting to the Lord for what happened Jan. 1 of this year, because he’s willing to forgive you even for that so you can be with him for eternity, just like Todd. You’ll be surprised when you see him there if you do that.”