State
Mother testifies to spare son's life in Ohio case
Posted: Mar 20, 2013 8:52 AM
Updated: Mar 20, 2013 8:53 AM
AKRON, Ohio (AP) The mother of a triple killer who lured his victims with Craigslist job offers is seeking to spare his life, testifying that he had a troubled childhood and suffered physical and sexual abuse.
Carol Beasley testified Wednesday in Akron in the sentencing phase of the trial of her son, 53-year-old Richard Beasley. He was convicted last week of killing three men and wounding a fourth, all lured with offers of farmhand jobs in southeast Ohio in 2011.
The same jury must now decide whether to recommend the death penalty.
Beasley's co-defendant, then 16 years old, was too young to face the death penalty. Brogan Rafferty was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole on his conviction last year.
