Jurors heard more testimony Friday in the case against alleged Craigslist killings mastermind Richard Beasley.

NewsChannel 5 cameras were in the courtroom as Joyce Grebelsky testified that Beasley's unusual behavior started when he wanted to be known by a new name: Ralph Geiger.

"He just said that he wanted be a different person," she said.

"He said he didn't want to go back to jail."

Ralph Geiger was one of the men murdered in Noble County as part of a lure-to-kill scheme centered around phony Craigslist job ads. Grebelesky said she knew Beasley from church.

Grebelesky told the jury she also received a strange letter from Beasley in jail after he was arrested. It included a hand-drawn map and instructions to destroy a wallet and computers inside his Gridley Avenue home. The letter also included a warning.

"Do not tell anybody about this," it read.

Grebelesky instead called the FBI and found the wallet of Ralph Geiger along with his driver's license, social security card, and birth certificate inside of it.

Jurors were also shown a surveillance video from the Waffle House in Springfield Township that appeared to show a meeting between Richard Beasley and murder victim Timothy Kern.

Jack Vickery, a special agent with the FBI was called in to testify Friday.

"A white man wearing khaki pants, white shoes, and a red hat matched the description of Timothy Kern," Vickery said.


Kern was shot multiple times and buried behind Rolling Acres Mall.

Prosecutors say Beasley killed three men and injured a fourth in 2011 in connection with the scheme.

If convicted, Beasley could be facing the death penalty.

On the Web:  www.newsnet5.com
 

The son of one of the murder victims in the Craigslist killings case testified in court Thursday during Richard Beasley's trial.

NewsChannel 5 cameras were in the courtroom as Nicholas Kern told jurors he loaned $20 to his father, Timothy Kern before he left for a job interview.

He says he texted his dad that night and told him good luck and that he loved him.

He never heard from his father again after that night.

Kern was one of several men who responded to a phony Craigslist job ad to work as a farmhand in Noble County.

In addition to testimony from Nicholas Kern, the jury heard testimony from a former FBI agent who had a hand in the arrest of Richard Beasley in Akron.

Michael Daugherty said Beasley's phone was traced through a cell tower and was arrested shortly thereafter.

Prosecutors allege that Beasley shot and killed Timothy Kern and buried his body behind Rolling Acres Mall. He also is being charged with the deaths of David Pauley and Ralph Geiger and the attempted murder of Scott Davis.

In addition to testimony from Nicholas Kern, the jury heard testimony from a former FBI agent who had a hand in the arrest of Richard Beasley in Akron.

Michael Daugherty said Beasley's phone was traced through a cell tower and was arrested shortly thereafter.

The jury heard from Beasley's former landlord, Penny Kaufman, who said Beasley made a trip down to southern Ohio and met with two men who he said wanted to by a storage facility from him.

She testified that the Beasley told her the men attempted to shoot him after they pulled off a dirt road.

Prosecutors say Beasley changed the details of what occurred in Noble County to cover for the crimes.

If convicted, Beasley could be facing the death penalty.

Co-defendant Brogan Rafferty of Stow was convicted for his role in the crimes last year and was sentenced to life in prison.

On the Web: www.newsnet5.com

The trial for a woman accused of pretending to be a veterinarian at an Akron animal hospital begins today in Summit County Common Peas Court.

36-year-old Brandi Tomko of Wadsworth is facing a list of charges including animal cruelty and identity fraud.

She appeared before Judge Paul Gallagher in court Tuesday.

Tomko is accused of treating and operating on animals at the now-closed C&D Animal Hospital on Brittain Road in Akron.

The story broke last April when Kenny Reymann shared with the media the details of the death of his dog "Charlie."

An Ohio judge has outlined arrangements in the Chardon school shooting trial of 18-year old TJ Lane.

News Channel5 reports Judge David Fuhry said jurors must be sequestered during deliberations in the aggravated murder trial that claimed the life of three Chardon High School students and wounded three others.

The judge also said in an order filed one week ago that Lane isn't subject to the death penalty. He was 17 during  the time of the shootings.

Jurors will not be questioned in regards to punishment for Lane if he his convicted.

Both the judge and the attorneys in the case are scheduled to meet Jan 30 to discuss a trial date.

Lane is accused of firing 10 shots at a group of students in the Chardon HS cafeteria in February of 2012. He was at the school waiting for a bus to transport him to his alternative school.

On the Web:  www.newsnet5.com
 

A date has been set for the trial of a man in connection with the 1999 death of an Akron woman.

Denny Ross was in court today for a pretrial hearing related to his alleged involvement with the death of Hannah Hill, 18 of Akron.

The Beacon Journal is reporting Ross rejected a plea deal that would have meant 25 more years in prison or 15 to life with 8 years credit for time served.

His trial date is set for August 13th in Judge Judy Hunter's courtroom. The first trial for Ross was declared a mistrial in the fall of 2000.

The newspaper is also saying Ross had a choice of 2 deals, one for murder and one for manslaughter.

The 32-year old Ross is already in prison for an unrelated crime while he was free on bond following his mistrial in the Hill case.  

He is charged with two counts of murder, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence, and felonious assault.

Ross will not face the death penalty.

Hill's body was found in the trunk of her car in Ellet after a week-long search in May of 1999.

On the Web www.ohio.com

The trial date in a civil law suit seeking travel expense reports and receipts from Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic has been postponed after a judge determined several legal issues need to be resolved.

The Beacon Journal reports Summit County Common Pleas Judge Amy Corrigall Jones made the decision during a pretrial meeting Tuesday morning .

The compliant against the mayor's record-keeping of his travel expenses was filed in April 2009 by Bob Smith of Chagrin Falls.

The new tentative trial date has been scheduled for Dec. 3.

On the Web: www.ohio.com