Prosecutors to Seek Death Penalty for Richard Beasley

on December 6, 2011 in Alleged Serial Killers by Brian Combs

Tags: Richard Beasley

Summit County, Ohio prosecutors told reporters Monday that they plan to seek the death penalty for Richard Beasley. Although not yet formally indicted, Beasley is alleged to have killed three people.

He is accused of having used a help-wanted ad in Craigslist to lure victims to their deaths. A fourth victim was shot but survived.

The victims were all middle-aged with little money, so the motive for the killings is unknown at this time.

Beasley is being held in Summit County Jail on unrelated prostitution and drug-trafficking charges.

A second suspect, 16-year-old Brogan Rafferty, is believed to have been involved in at least one of the murders as well as the attempted murder. He has been charged in those cases, and is expected to be tried as an adult, but will not be eligible for the death penalty.