Hung jury results in mistrial of two men charged in 2007 murder

YOUNGSTOWN — A hung jury has resulted in a mistrial for two men charged with aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, kidnapping and felonious assault.

Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court declared the mistrial this afternoon in the case of Aaron Sherrod, 22, of Stockbridge, Ga., and D’Metri Lee, 21, of Idlewood Avenue, whose trial began two weeks ago.

Sherrod and Lee are charged with the Nov. 18, 2007, aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping of James E. Dow, 28, of South Lakeview Avenue, and felonious assault against a friend of Dow, who survived after he was shot in the hip on the same day.

Judge Sweeney set a pre-trial hearing for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and said the new trial for Sherrod and Lee is set to begin Monday.

Dow was found dead in the basement of 145 Thornton Ave. on the city’s North Side, his feet bound with tape.

The jurors deadlocked after 12 hours of deliberations on Friday and today.

For the complete story, see Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com