The Stow teen accused of multiple felonies in Summit and Noble counties in the Craigslist shootings case is scheduled to stand trial Oct. 9 in Summit County on charges of aggravated murder and attempted murder in connection with two of the four victims.
The trial date was set Wednesday during a brief hearing before Common Pleas Judge Lynne S. Callahan.
Brogan Rafferty, who turned 17 last month, also waived his right to a speedy trial, according to his attorney, John Alexander Jr.
Rafferty previously was charged as an adult in Noble County in connection with the shooting death of a Virginia man, David Pauley, 51, and the shooting of a South Carolina man, Scott Davis, 48, who survived a gunshot wound and alerted authorities.
A three-day hearing is scheduled to begin April 17 in Summit County Juvenile Court to determine whether Rafferty will be tried as an adult in connection with the slayings of the other victims: Ralph Geiger, 56, of Akron, and Timothy Kern, 47, of Massillon.
Alexander said a joint trial date will be set in connection with all four victims after the juvenile court hearing is held.
Authorities here and in Noble County have said previously that Rafferty was the accomplice of a 52-year-old Akron man, Richard James Beasley, in a scheme involving a bogus Craigslist ad posted online as early as July.
The ad promised a job for $300 a week and housing to serve as caretaker of a Noble County farm. Victims who responded to the ad, authorities said, were lured to their deaths.
According to details in Beasley’s Summit County indictment, Geiger was the first victim. He was shot and killed Aug. 9. Pauley was shot and killed Oct. 23. Davis was shot Nov. 6. And Kern was shot and killed Nov. 29.
Rafferty is being held at the Summit County juvenile detention center. Beasley is being held without bond at the Summit County Jail.
Ed Meyer can be reached at 330-996-3784 or at emeyer@thebeaconjournal.com.
