A man already serving a life sentence for killing three teenage girls and a Bible studies teacher in Ohio 14 years ago has received another life term for strangling a fellow inmate.
A judge in Toledo sentenced 44-year-old Lawrence Michael Hensley of Sidney on Friday on his guilty plea in the strangling of 24-year-old Brad Hamlin at the state prison in Toledo last year.
Hamlin was serving five years for burglary, breaking and entering, and theft in Portage and Cuyahoga counties.
According to The (Toledo) Blade, the victim’s mother questioned in court why the killer was locked up with non-violent criminals.
Hensley was sentenced to life in prison in 2000 after admitting that he killed four people in Shelby County, 40 miles north of Dayton.
COLUMBUS
Man beaten by ‘bored’ teens dies
Authorities say the Ohio man who was badly beat by six teens almost a year ago in a Cincinnati suburb has died.
The Hamilton County prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Julie Wilson says 46-year-old Pat Mahaney died Friday at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
The six teens, all 13 and 14, injured Mahaney in August and told police they did it because they were bored and looking for something to do.
Wilson says Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters has asked the coroner for an autopsy.
Three of the youths have pleaded guilty to felonious assault.
GIRARD
5-figure water bills blamed on software
An Ohio pastor joked about using too much holy water when his church received a $93,000 water bill.
The July water bill sent to St. Rose Catholic Church in Girard near Youngstown was one of many erroneous statements sent to water customers in the city.
According to The (Youngstown) Vindicator, a hair salon got a $12,000 bill.
The city blames a software error used with newly installed wireless meters.
Residents, business owners and clergy descended on the water department seeking an explanation.
Girard public services director Jerry Lambert says the city is replacing manual-read meters with automatic readers. He says the errors are a result of software problems during the changeover.
OSTRANDER
Murder-suicide suspected in 2 deaths
Authorities in central Ohio are investigating a suspected murder-suicide.
Authorities in Union County northwest of Columbus say a man fatally shot his estranged wife and killed himself after a standoff with officers Friday night.
Coroner David Applegate identified the two on Saturday as 51-year-old Diana Flagg and her husband, 58-year old Jerry Flagg Sr.
Sheriff Jamie Patton and deputies worked through the night investigating the scene outside Ostrander.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, a passer-by reported seeing a woman’s body lying in a ditch late Friday afternoon and called 911.
The standoff began as officers arrived at the scene.
CLEVELAND
Teen dies in fall from school roof
Authorities say a young man fell to his death from the roof of a Cleveland school before dawn.
Police say the 18-year-old fell from the roof of the Clara E. Westropp Elementary School before 2 a.m. Saturday. He was taken to Fairview Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
According to Cleveland police, the man and a companion climbed onto the school roof and were drinking. The companion told officers the victim slipped on a wet spot and fell off the roof.
The victim’s name was withheld until relatives could be notified.
CLEVELAND
City gets $29M to plan long-delayed highway
Cleveland has landed $29 million from the state to plan a long-delayed highway project linking Interstate 490 and the University Circle arts and museum district.
The $324 million project would run 3 ½ miles through Cleveland’s East side neighborhoods and connect with the big Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals employment centers.
According to The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, the Ohio Department of Transportation earmarked the money a while ago and the state Controlling Board voted Monday to approve the funding.
Needed federal approval and funding are still pending.
About the Author