Craigslist murderer gets death sentence in Ohio (VIDEO)
The office of online site Craigslist is seen March 10, 2006 in San Francisco, California. Craigslist.org is being sued in a federal lawsuit for violating fair housing laws by publishing discriminatory classified ads.
Craigslist murderer Richard Beasley received the death sentence in Ohio on April 4th, after he was convicted for the murders of three job-seeking men, and the serious injury of another.
The 53-year-old Beasley, a former street preacher, was said to have murdered three men after posting farmhand job ads on Craiglist, then kidnapping and killing those who answered with the aid of a teenage accomplice.
Read more from GlobalPost: Richard Beasley found guilty of murder
Summit County Common Pleas Judge Lynne Callahan imposed three death sentences on Beasley, reported Reuters, per the suggestion of the jury who tried him last month.
Beasley, for his part, continues to maintain his innocence, according to Reuters.
"I want to make sure you understand: I have killed nobody," said Beasley after the sentence came down. "To the families, I'm sorry. … I will continue to pray for you."
NBC reports that the men Beasley was convicted of killing were Ralph Geiger, 56, of Akron; David Pauley, 51, of Norfolk, Va.; and Timothy Kern, 47, of Massillon, all buried in graves in the woods.
South Carolina native Scott Davis managed to escape Beasley and his accomplice, and served as a key witness during the trial.
WKYC News reports that teenage accomplice Brogan Rafferty received a life sentence without possibility of parole in the case, as he was under 18 at the time of the crime, and thus too young to receive the death penalty.