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Thread: Stanley Ford Sentenced to LWOP in 2017 OH Multiple Arson Murders

  1. #21
    Administrator Helen's Avatar
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    Jury selection begins for Akron arson suspect accused of killing 9 people

    By Julia Tullos
    WOIO News

    AKRON, Ohio (WOIO) - Jury selection began Tuesday in the trial for the man accused of setting three arson fires in Akron, killing a total of nine people.

    Stanley Ford was arrested in May of 2017.

    Akron police said Ford’s first fire was on April 18, 2016 at 719 Fultz Avenue. Lindell Lewis and Gloria Jean Hart were killed in that blaze.

    According to officials, Ford’s second arson fire was on Jan. 23, 2017 at 723 Russell Avenue. A Dodge Durango was set on fire, but there were no injuries.

    Akron police said his third fire was on May 15, 2017 at 693 Fultz Avenue. Two adults and five children died in that house fire. The youngest victim was a one-year-old child.

    Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge Christine Croce is presiding over Ford’s trial.

    Jury selection is expected to last three weeks and opening statements are scheduled to begin on March 10.

    Ford faces the death penalty if convicted.

    https://www.cleveland19.com/2020/02/...illing-people/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  2. #22
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    Man testifies about escaping fatal Akron fire that killed 2

    The Daily Record

    AKRON (AP) — The sole survivor of an arson fire testified the man accused of setting the blaze that killed two people had been arguing with one of the victims beforehand.

    Thomas Hugley testified Thursday in Akron that he heard a loud noise, looked out the window of the basement where he was living and realized the structure was on fire, the Akron Beacon Journal reported.

    Hugley testified that after escaping through a basement door that he heard Gloria Jean Hart, one of the victims, screaming, “We can’t get out!” Hugley said he was unable to grab a ladder in the backyard because it was secured with a chain.

    Stanley Ford, 60, faces capital murder charges in the 2016 deaths of Hart, her boyfriend, Lindell Lewis, and seven people, including five children, in an arson fire at another home in Ford’s Akron neighborhood in 2017.

    Ford has maintained his innocence.

    Asked by a defense attorney whether he saw Ford set the fire, Hugley testified that he did not.

    Authorities have said another neighbor’s surveillance camera recorded Ford going to and from the homes where the fatal fires occurred.

    https://www.the-daily-record.com/new...-that-killed-2
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  3. #23
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    Edited:

    Trial for Akron arson suspect accused of killing 9 people on hold due to the coronavirus

    By Julia Tullos
    WOIO News

    AKRON, Ohio (WOIO) - The trial for the man accused of setting three arson fires in Akron, killing a total of nine people, is now on hold due to the coronavirus.

    Jury selection began in Stanley Ford’s trial on Feb. 18.

    Before opening arguments were heard on March 10, jury members for the Stanley Ford trial went to visit the site of his crimes.

    Ford’s trial will resume on April 1 with the prosecution continuing to call witnesses.

    He faces the death penalty if convicted.

    https://www.cleveland19.com/2020/03/...e-coronavirus/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  4. #24
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    Attorneys for Akron man accused in 9 arson deaths request mistrial

    The capital trial of an Akron man accused of starting fires that killed 9 people is scheduled to resume Tuesday after a 7-week hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    However, Joe Gorman and Scott Rilley, the attorneys for Stanley Ford, filed a motion Thursday requesting a mistrial — a step that would mean a new trial for Ford.

    “Stanley Ford is unable to receive a fair trial due to the pandemic and/or the delay and suspension of the trial testimony,” the attorneys said.

    Summit County Common Pleas Judge Christine Croce said she will address the mistrial request before the trial resumes.

    In the meantime, Croce and other courthouse staff have been preparing for the restart of the death-penalty trial, including readying a larger space so that Ford, the attorneys and the jurors can be spaced out.

    “We’re going to do our best and I think the way we have managed this courtroom is going to allow for that to take place,” Croce said.

    If the trial goes forward, it may be the only or one of a few trials proceeding this month in Ohio.

    Summit County has suspended all other jury trials until May 29.

    The jury selection in a criminal case in Ashland County ended abruptly this week after the defendant became ill and was taken to the hospital. (He later tested negative for COVID-19.) Judge Ronald Forsthoefel continued the trial until mid-May.

    (source: Akron Beacon Journal)
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

  5. #25
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    Akron arson death case to resume Tuesday under unusual circumstances

    When the capital murder trial of Stanley Ford resumes Tuesday, it will be under highly unusual circumstances.

    The jurors will have their temperatures taken twice – when they enter the Summit County Courthouse and the courtroom.

    Plastic partitions will separate jurors and attorneys from each other and surround the witness box.

    The media and family members of the nine people who died in fires Ford is accused of starting – all normally in the courtroom – will watch via a live feed that will be broadcast to another courtroom and on YouTube.

    With these precautions, Summit County Common Pleas Judge Christine Croce said she thinks it will be safe to resume Ford’s trial, which was suspended in mid-March because of coronavirus concerns.

    “The court believes it is taking all possible health precautions inside the courthouse and the courtroom to ensure the health and safety of the defendant, counsel, jurors, court personnel and witnesses,” Croce said in a recent order that denied a request from Ford’s attorney’s for a mistrial, which would require a new trial.

    Ford’s trial will be the only trial in Summit County in June or July and will likely be one of very few proceeding this summer in Ohio and across the country. A death-penalty case in Lorain County that had been suspended like Ford’s trial is scheduled to resume in early August.

    Joe Gorman and Scott Rilley, Ford’s attorneys, argued their client won’t be able to get a fair trial and they will be unable to adequately represent him because of ongoing concerns about the pandemic. They requested that Croce grant him a new trial or another continuance.

    “The trial of a death penalty case should not be pressured forward under these circumstances,” the attorneys said in a supplement to their mistrial motion. “Mr. Ford’s federal and state constitutional rights are being compromised.”

    Croce denied the attorney’s requests late last week.

    Ford, 61, is accused of setting fires in 2016 and 2017 because of disagreements with his neighbors. Two people died in one fire, while seven more -- including five children -- perished in another. This is the most murders one person has been accused of in Summit County history.

    Ford is being held in the Summit County Jail with no bond, isolated from other inmates. His trial began March 10 and was suspended a week later because of growing concerns about COVID-19.

    Two to three weeks of testimony remain. If Ford is convicted, the trial will be followed by another week of testimony about whether he should be put to death.

    Croce said she consulted with the Summit County health department for help deciding what steps should be taken to prepare her courtroom to resume the trial.

    The precautions include providing hand sanitizer to people when they enter the courtroom, disinfecting the courtroom during lunch and each evening, and requiring people to wear masks when they enter the courthouse. She said it will be up to the attorneys, jurors and witnesses if they want to wear a mask in her court.

    Croce said she has been in contact with the jurors since the trial was suspended and they have indicated they have remained healthy and haven’t been exposed to anyone with COVID-19. Before the trial resumes Tuesday afternoon, Croce said she and the attorneys will question jurors about their health and any concerns they have.

    Croce pointed out that other courts also have or are about to allow jury trials to restart, including Franklin County Common Pleas Court, which permitted trials to resume June 1. She said a trial that was delayed in late February restarted May 20 in Solana County, California.

    “It is clear to this court that Ohio courts and jurisdictions across the country are getting back to presiding over jury trials while taking the necessary precautions to proceed safely,” Croce said. “Any implication that Mr. Ford is being singled out and receiving disparate treatment because he is being required to proceed amidst the pandemic is utter nonsense.”

    https://www.beaconjournal.com/news/2...-circumstances
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

  6. #26
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    Edited:

    Mistrial granted in capital murder trial of Akron man accused in 9 deaths

    By Stephanie Warsmith
    Beacon Journal

    After questioning jurors Monday in the capital murder trial of an Akron man accused of starting fatal fires, a Summit County judge granted a mistrial.

    That means Stanley Ford will get a new trial, which will be months down the road.

    Joe Gorman and Scott Rilley, Ford’s attorneys, have been pushing for a mistrial or another delay of Ford’s trial, which started in March but has been on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Summit County Judge Christine Croce said she thought the trial could proceed with precautions in the courthouse and her courtroom, including plastic installed to separate the jurors, attorneys and witnesses.

    Croce and the attorneys questioned the 17 jurors Monday morning about their thoughts on the trial resuming. Croce then announced she was granting a mistrial.

    The proceeding wasn’t open to the public or media because it included asking jurors personal health questions.

    Testimony in the trial had been expected to resume Thursday.

    Ford, 61, is accused of starting a fire in 2016 that killed two people and a second blaze in 2017 in which seven people, including five children, died. Prosecutors say he had beefs with his neighbors.

    https://www.beaconjournal.com/news/2...ed-in-9-deaths
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  7. #27
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    New trial date for Akron arson suspect accused of killing 9 people

    By Julia Tullos
    Cleveland 19 News

    AKRON, Ohio (WOIO) - The second trial for the man accused of setting three arson fires in Akron, killing a total of nine people, is now scheduled to begin in January of 2021.

    Stanley Ford’s trial began Feb. 18, but was declared a mistrial on June 15, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    Ford was arrested in May of 2017.

    Akron police said Ford’s first fire was on April 18, 2016 at 719 Fultz Avenue. Lindell Lewis and Gloria Jean Hart were killed in that blaze.

    According to officials, Ford’s second arson fire was on Jan. 23, 2017 at 723 Russell Avenue. A Dodge Durango was set on fire, but there were no injuries.

    Akron police said his third fire was on May 15, 2017 at 693 Fultz Avenue. Two adults and five children died in that house fire. The youngest victim was a one-year-old child.

    Jury selection is scheduled to start on Jan. 19, 2021.

    Ford faces the death penalty if convicted.

    https://www.cleveland19.com/2020/08/...illing-people/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  8. #28
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    Trial again delayed for Akron man accused of 9 arson deaths

    AKRON, OHIO (AP) — THE latest capital murder trial of a man accused of killing nine people in two separate arson fires has been delayed until January.

    Stanley Ford, 61, of Akron, had gone on trial in February, but it was soon halted by the coronavirus pandemic and the judge overseeing the case eventually declared a mistrial in June. A pretrial hearing in the case was then scheduled for this month, and the jury selection process was also due to begin.

    However, Summit County Court of Common Pleas officials say jury selection will now start on Jan. 19. They have not said what caused the delay.

    Ford is accused of killing two people in 2016 and seven people, including five children, in 2017.

    Both fires occurred in Ford’s Akron neighborhood. He set the fires because of disputes with his neighbors, prosecutors have alleged, but Ford maintains his innocence. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

    https://www.usnews.com/news/best-sta...al%20in%20June.
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

  9. #29
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    Akron man accused in fatal fires wants new attorneys; new death penalty trial expected to start in January

    An Akron man accused of starting fires that left 9 people dead wants new attorneys as his trial continues to be delayed.

    Stanley Ford claims his lawyers are in cahoots with Summit County prosecutors. He says he believes they are doctoring video evidence in the capital case — an accusation they deny.

    “I am missing video,” Ford said during a video hearing Tuesday.

    Summit County Common Pleas Judge Christine Croce delayed making a decision on Ford’s request and granted a motion from Joe Gorman and Scott Rilley, Ford’s attorneys, to hire an expert to examine the defense copy of the video and verify whether it was altered from the original version.

    Croce also set a date for Ford’s trial, which was started in March but then postponed several times because of the pandemic. The judge declared a mistrial in June.

    Jury selection in Ford’s new trial is scheduled to begin in mid-January, with testimony starting in early February. The trial is expected to last several weeks. Croce said she didn’t want to start the trial in the fall because it would likely run into the holidays.

    Ford, 61, is accused of starting a fire in 2016 that killed 2 people and a 2nd blaze in 2017 in which 7 people died, including five children. Prosecutors say he had beefs with his neighbors.

    Ford, who maintains he is innocent, is being held at the Summit County Jail without bond. If convicted, he faces the death penalty.

    Ford’s initial trial was delayed while attorneys debated issues related to his competency. Defense experts found that Ford has vascular dementia and brain damage. Croce found that Ford was competent to stand trial and declined a request from his attorneys to remove the death penalty as an option.

    Ford filed a handwritten motion with the court Aug. 4 that asked for Gorman and Rilley, both experienced Akron attorneys, to be removed from his case. He claimed he hasn’t met with the defense’s investigator, hasn’t been able to view evidence and that his attorneys conspired with assistant prosecutors Joe Dangelo and Brian LoPrinzi.

    “The accusations are frivolous, fabricated, fallacy from Akron police department homicide unit,” Ford wrote. “All evidence exclude Stanley Ford from all crimes scene.”

    Ford ended his letter with: “Black lives matter. Stop systemic racism in this judicial system.”

    During the hearing, Ford said video footage in the case was altered, a concern he’s raised previously. He said he is not confident in his attorneys’ ability to handle the evidence.

    Croce said she has discussed this issue with Ford multiple times. She said prosecutors took video footage and pieced it together to show it to the jury but she said this doesn’t mean the original video doesn’t exist.

    “Nobody’s gotten rid of evidence,” she said.

    Croce said Ford’s 1st trial didn’t get to the point in which his attorneys would present their own evidence, with only prosecutors calling witnesses before the trial was put on hold and then eventually stopped. She said there are a limited number of attorneys who could handle the death penalty case and Ford’s attorneys have put in numerous hours.

    Gorman said he and Rilley still have their own, original copy of the video. He said Rilley has contacted a video expert to review and verify that the video hasn’t been changed.

    Croce approved hiring the video expert and said Gorman and Rilley can share the results with Ford. She said she will reconsider Ford’s request if it appears the attorney-client relationship is “irreparable.”

    “Neither one of these 2 people would tamper and/or modify physical evidence,” she said.

    Croce told Ford at one point, “Stop talking and stop telling me how to do my job.”

    “I’m dealing with systematic racism,” Ford responded.

    Croce told Ford that, if he didn’t stop talking, she would mute him. Ford then remained silent while the attorneys discussed dates for the new trial.

    Jury selection is slated for Jan. 19, followed by testimony on Feb. 8. If Ford is convicted, the sentencing phase would begin in March 11.

    (source: Akron Beacon Journal)
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

  10. #30
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    Akron man accused in 9 arson deaths wants to fire attorneys, prolong death-penalty case

    By Stephanie Warsmith
    Akron Beacon Journal

    An Akron man accused of nine arson deaths insists he wants to fire his attorneys, despite how this would further delay his death-penalty trial.

    Summit County Common Pleas Judge Christine Croce warned Stanley Ford during a video hearing Tuesday that replacing his attorneys would push back the start of his trial another six months.

    "That's okay," Ford said. "I'll wait."

    Ford is asking that attorneys Joe Gorman and Scott Rilley be removed from the case because he thinks they are secretly working with Summit County prosecutors and that video evidence in the case was doctored.

    Croce said she will make a decision on whether to keep Gorman and Rilley on the case at a video hearing Oct. 2. By that time, a video expert hired by the defense will have analyzed the video evidence to determine if it was altered.

    Ford, 61, is accused of starting a fire in 2016 that killed two people and a second blaze in 2017 in which seven people died, including five children. Prosecutors say he had disagreements with his neighbors.

    Ford, who maintains he is innocent, is being held at the Summit County Jail without bond. If convicted, he faces the death penalty.

    Ford's trial was delayed while attorneys debated issues related to his competency, with defense experts finding that Ford has vascular dementia and brain damage. Croce deemed Ford competent to stand trial and declined a request from his attorneys to remove the death penalty as an option.

    Ford's trial began in March, with a week of testimony before the proceeding was put on hold because of the pandemic. After several delays, Croce declared a mistrial, which restarted the process.

    Ford filed a written request in early August asking for his attorneys to be replaced.

    Croce has told Ford that prosecutors pieced together parts of surveillance video in the case to show jurors, but that the original video still exists.

    Gorman and Rilley, both experienced defense attorneys, have said they have a copy of the original video.

    Croce has warned Ford that there are a limited number of attorneys who can handle a death-penalty case.

    "I don't know that you're going to find two people more committed to the case," she told him Tuesday.

    "That's your opinion," Ford responded.

    If Croce allows Gorman and Rilley to remain on the case, a new pool of jurors will be chosen Oct. 13, with summonses going out shortly after that. Jury selection is expected to start in mid-January, with testimony beginning in early February.

    https://www.reporternews.com/story/n...ty/5801856002/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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