FINGERHUT MURDER Victim's son: Execute killer

Nate Jackson is appealing his death sentence.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The son of a Howland Township murder victim says the only way his family can make peace with his father's death is to make sure the defendants "are not able to enjoy life."
Mike Fingerhut sent a letter to Judge John Stuard of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court urging the death sentence for Nathaniel Jackson.
Jackson, 30, of South Pearl Street, and Donna Roberts, 57, of Howland, were charged with killing Robert Fingerhut in his Fonderlac Drive S.E. residence Dec. 11, 2001.
Fingerhut owned the Greyhound bus terminals in Warren and Youngstown.
Jackson was convicted of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary last month.
Judge Stuard sentenced him to death Monday. Jackson is appealing.
Roberts' trial is scheduled for April. Roberts and Fingerhut were divorced but were living together.
'Justice must prevail'
"Nothing is going to bring my father back to us, this is why justice must prevail," the letter states. "Nate Jackson took a very special person from this world, and should not be allowed to live another day."
The judge could have reduced Jackson's sentence to life in prison without parole, or 25 or 30 years.
The judge, however, said during sentencing that Jackson broke into Fingerhut's home to "carry out a coldblooded execution."
Defense attorneys have asked the judge to grant a new trial. The judge said he would take the matter under advisement.
Blaming Roberts
After the sentencing hearing, Jeffrey Wells, 37, of Braceville, a friend of Jackson's, said he faults Roberts for the murder.
Wells, who said he met Jackson while serving time on an assault charge in the Trumbull County jail, said he doesn't believe the murder would have taken place if it wasn't for Roberts.
"Nate didn't know this guy," Wells said. "Donna Roberts knew the guy. She became Nate's friend. She set this up."
During the trial, Prosecutor Dennis Watkins told the jury that while Jackson was in prison in 2001, he and Roberts wrote to each and plotted Fingerhut's murder.
Jackson was released from prison Dec. 9, 2001, after serving one year on a conviction out of Mahoning County on two counts of receiving stolen property.
sinkovich@vindy.com