"Craigslist Murder Case": Brogan Rafferty, Ohio teen, sentenced to life in prison

[Jazzy]

AKRON — An Ohio teenager taken under the wing of a man defense attorneys described as a master manipulator was found guilty of aggravated murder Tuesday for his role in a deadly plot to lure men desperate for work with phony Craigslist job offers.



Prosecutors in the weeks long trial painted 17-year-old Brogan Rafferty as a quick student of violence and willing participant in three killings, while the defense argued he was acting under the duress of his alleged accomplice, a self-styled chaplain depicted as a mentor.



Authorities said Rafferty, of Stow, helped Richard Beasley, of Akron, lure four victims at separate times with bogus Craigslist job offers to a nonexistent cattle farm in rural Noble County in southeast Ohio; they said the motive was robbery. Authorities said Beasley shot and killed three of the men; the fourth victim was shot in the arm and survived.

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Sad story and I'm glad these two were caught and convicted.

 

[Jazzy]

AKRON, Ohio - A teenager was sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole Friday for his role in a deadly plot to lure men desperate for work with phony Craigslist job offers.



Judge Lynne Callahan sentenced 17-year-old Brogan Rafferty, who had been convicted on Oct. 30 of aggravated murder and attempted murder in the deaths of three men and wounding of a fourth.



The sentencing was delayed from Monday amid talks on a deal for leniency in return for Rafferty's testimony against the alleged triggerman. Rafferty was looking to avoid a life sentence without hope of parole.



The jury rejected the defense claim that Rafferty feared for himself and his family if he didn't cooperate with his co-defendant, Richard Beasley of Akron.



The 53-year-old Beasley, described as the teen's spiritual mentor, has pleaded not guilty and faces a Jan. 7 trial.



Prosecutors say the victims, all down in their luck and with few family ties that might highlight their disappearance, were lured with phony offers of farmhand jobs on Craigslist last year.



One man was killed near Akron and the others were shot at a southeast Ohio farm during bogus job interviews.



Prosecutors say robbery was the motive.

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Not very bright. Motive was robbery? How much money did this jerk think these down in their victims had on them? I don't believe robbery was a motive for a second. I think he did it for the thrill of it. Good bye and they're going to love this pretty boy in whatever prison he winds up in. He's probably going to wish he had gotten the death penalty.

 

[Flurry]

Wellp, this'll make folks a bit more weary of using Craigslist,