Jury selection began on Tuesday in Akron, Ohio for the trial of Richard Beasley, charged in the murders of three men, two of whom were lured by a Craigslist ad for a non-existent job, Reuters reported.
Beasley, 53, faces the death penalty for the murders of David Pauley, 51, of Norfolk, Virginia; Ralph Geiger, 56, of Akron, Ohio; and Timothy Kern, 47, of Massillon, Ohio. He is also charged with the attempted murder of Scott Davis, who answered the Craigslist ad and was shot in the arm while escaping after meeting Beasley and his teenage accomplice Brogan Rafferty. The ad offered a $300-a-week caretaker job in rural Ohio.
Rafferty, 17, was tried as an adult and sentenced to life in prison without parole in November for his role in the scheme. Since he was 16 years old at the time of the crimes and not eligible for the death penalty, according to police reports.
During Rafferty's trial, jurors heard testimony that the teen helped to dig graves for some of the men and was also found in possession of guns and knives stolen from them. Rafferty testified that he was terrified of the man he had considered a father figure and spiritual adviser after he saw Beasley shoot Geiger in the head execution-style.
Prosecutors said Beasley lured Geiger, his first victim, with the offer of a non-existent caretaker job, killed him, stole his identity and then drew other victims by posting the bogus job on Craigslist.
According to court documents, both Rafferty and Davis, the victim who escaped, have been subpoenaed to testify in the trial. Rafferty's attorney told Reuters that a final decision has not been made regarding his testimony. Reuters also reported that jury selection is expected to up to last six days, with opening statements set to begin next week. His trial could take as long as six weeks.
