Facebook Page, Website Supports Teen Charged with Murder

While a 16-year-old sits behind bars in a Summit County Juvenile detention center for a , his friends are looking for support online.

The former  student was charged with attempted murder and complicity to attempted murder by authorities investigating a murder and shooting in Caldwell, OH.

One website was developed by the charged teen's friend.

"He helped me through a lot and he doesn't know. For that I owe him a lot. He is a great kid. He such a sweetheart. Yeah he teased me and joked with me to piss me off at times but I could never truly hate him," the charged teen's friend said. "I made this site for the sole reason that I think [he] is innocent. And I know a few others that agree and they are closer to him than I am. He has had a rough life but I can not see him go to such extremes such as this. I know for a fact that he would only hurt someone is if he knew them and if he was being attacked and he attacked back to protect himself."

His friend said the site was created to "see what people's opinions are and to bring the friends and maybe family together."

A Facebook page was recently developed with the same intention. (Warning: expletive language is often used on the Facebook page.)

"Good to see people actually give a damn," the page's creator posted. "Support and a good lawyer are the two of the things he needs most."

Richard Beasley, 52, of Akron, who the teen's mother said was a long-time family friend in a 19 Action News interview, is being investigated for his possible involvement in the Craigslist ad murder scheme as well. 

Beasley is being held in Summit County Jail for charges related to prostitution and his bond was set for $1 million, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.

Noble County Judge John Nau issued a gag order on the case Nov. 18.

Editor's note: Patch generally does not name juveniles accused of crimes. 

The Noble County Juvenile Court is seeking to have “the alleged delinquent juvenile be tried as an adult," according to a Twinsburg Bulletin story.

• Click here for related content.

Press release about the incident from the sheriff's department:

Deputies in Noble County began investigating a possible robbery and shooting on Nov. 6. A South Carolina man told deputies he was lured to Marietta to meet with two men about an ad on Craigslist seeking a worker to help on a 688-acre cattle ranch.

After eating in Marietta, the victim and the two men drove to Caldwell and then to Stock Township.

At some point, the victim was told the road was closed and they would have to walk. As they moved through the heavily-wooded area, the victim said he heard a gun being cocked.

As he turned, he saw the gun pointed to his head. He managed to deflect the weapon and run. As he ran, he was shot in the arm. More shots followed. For the next seven hours, the man hid until he was able to reach a home and call for help.

On Nov. 11, a Boston woman called deputies about her missing twin brother. She believed her brother answered the same Craigslist ad. He had not been seen since Oct. 22 in Parkersburg, WV.

Based on the information, deputies returned to the area where the original shooting occurred. On Monday, they found evidence related to the initial shooting. The next day, using cadaver dogs, the body was found in a shallow grave.

"We believe the attempted murder of victim one and the likely murder of victim two are connected and possibly committed by the same person," said Hannum.