WARREN Adams begs for his life to jury

The jurors were to begin deliberating the murderer's punishment this morning.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Tears flowing down his face, Stanley Adams pleaded for his life in front of the same jury that found him guilty of killing a mother and daughter.
"Please don't kill me," said Adams, 33, his voice breaking. "My son also asked that you don't kill me. Please don't put me on death row."
Adams, of Champion, also denied any involvement in the murders of Esther and Ashley Cook of Warren.
"I have never taken a life from anybody, especially a kid," Adams said. "I have three kids."
Adams gave his statement to the jury Tuesday afternoon after his attorneys finished presenting witnesses in the sentencing phase of his capital murder trial.
Possible sentences: Judge Peter Kontos sent the jurors home after Adams gave his statement and ordered them to return to the courtroom today. The judge said attorneys for both sides will give closing arguments, then the jurors will be asked to deliberate Adams' fate. The jurors can sentence Adams to death, life in prison without parole, or life in prison with parole eligibility after 20 or 30 years.
Last week, the jurors found Adams guilty of two counts of aggravated murder and specifications that the murders took place when Adams was committing other crimes -- kidnapping, rape and aggravated burglary -- during the Oct. 11, 1999, killing of Cook, 43, and her 12-year-old daughter Ashley.
Adams was also convicted of two counts of rape and one count each of kidnapping and aggravated burglary.
Prosecutors said Adams raped the girl, then killed her and her mother.
During the sentencing phase, defense attorneys Ted Macejko Jr. and Mark Lavelle had mental health experts and relatives tell jurors about Adams' childhood.
Sandra McPherson, a psychologist from Cleveland, and Jeff Adams, 43, Stanley's older brother, testified that Adams was physically and sexually abused as a child.
Jeff Adams said his father sexually abused all six of his children, except him.
"I was older and was able to keep him away," Jeff Adams said. He noted that his father also abused their mother in front of them.
Bad situation: McPherson said Adams' childhood was one of the worst situations she has encountered as a professional.
"I don't think it gets much worse," McPherson said.
She noted that when Adams was 5, his father took him and his other siblings from their mother and they moved often. Adams told her that during that time, he was sexually abused and taught by his father to drink alcohol and to steal.
McPherson said Adams' mother was unable to take care of her children and they were sent to foster homes.
No evidence: During cross-examination by Prosecutor Dennis Watkins, McPherson said she did not have any evidence that Adams was ever hospitalized for sexual or physical abuse. McPherson also said that Adams does know right from wrong, has no mental disease and is not mentally retarded.
McPherson also said, however, that Adams' IQ is about 78, which is below average.
Adams was previously convicted in the Aug. 6, 1999, murder and rape of Roslyn Taylor, 40, of Poland Township. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Officials don't know if Taylor knew Esther or Ashley Cook.
Authorities have described Adams as a self-employed auto mechanic who lived with the Cooks for a short time.
Adams has maintained his innocence in all three slayings.