Richard Beasley Sentenced to Death

Richard Beasley, 53, of Yale Street in Akron, received the death penalty this morning.

"Richard Beasley is a cold-blooded manipulator with zero regard for human life," said Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh. "Beasley has shown no remorse and would likely still be preying on men who were seeking a better life. It is never a joyous occasion when someone is sentenced to die, but in this case, the death penalty is the most appropriate sentence." 

Beasley and his then-16-year-old accomplice, Brogan Rafferty of Stow, lured unemployed men to Akron using an ad on Craigslist. The ad offered a farm caretaker job in Noble County with a weekly salary of $300, housing and use of the property and vehicles on that property. Beasley and Rafferty shot four of the men who responded to the ad. Ralph Geiger, 56, of Akron; David Pauley, 51, of Norfolk, VA; and Timothy Kern, 47, of Massillon, all died and were buried in shallow graves. Scott Davis, 48, of South Carolina, managed to escape and seek help at a nearby house.

"We are pleased to see justice done in both of these cases, which came as a result of great collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement officers, as well as our special prosecutors in partnership with the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office," said Attorney General Mike DeWine.   

Beasley said in court Thursday morning that he plans to appeal.  

"While nothing can erase what happened to Scott Davis, Ralph Geiger, Timothy Kern and David Pauley, I hope that their families and Mr. Davis can now find some measure of peace," said Walsh in a prepared statement.

A jury recommended Beasley be sentenced to death after finding him guilty of:

• Nine counts of Aggravated Murder with
  • Gun specification
  • Multiple victims death specification
  • Aggravated robbery death specification
  • Kidnapping death specification
  • Under detention death specification
• One count of Attempted Murder with a gun specification,
• Four counts of Aggravated Robbery with gun specifications,
• Four counts of Kidnapping with gun specifications,
• Four counts of Having Weapons Under Disability,
• One count of Identity Fraud
• Two counts of Grand Theft, and
• Two counts of Petty Theft. 

Judge Lynne Callahan sentenced Rafferty to life in prison without parole eligibility after a jury found him guilty of:

• Nine counts of Aggravated Murder with firearm specifications;
• One count of Attempted Murder with a firearm specification;
• Four counts of Aggravated Robbery, a felony of the first degree, with firearm specifications;
• Four counts of Kidnapping, a felony of the first degree;
• Once count of Grand Theft, a felony of the third degree;
• Once count of Grand Theft, a felony of the fourth degree;
• Receiving Stolen Property, a felony of the fourth degree; and
• Three counts of Petty Theft, a misdemeanor of the first degree.