Jury wants life sentence for Ohioan in 4 killings

Associated Press

AKRON

A jury is recommending a life sentence without parole for a 22-year-old man convicted of killing four people in a Northeast Ohio townhome last year.

The jury in Akron decided against recommending the death penalty Friday for Derrick Brantley.

Brantley’s attorney says they’re pleased the jury opted not to choose a death sentence. He says there will be an automatic appeal of the conviction.

The same jury convicted Brantley of aggravated murder in the April 2013 slayings of the young adults.

All four were shot in the head during a drug-related robbery. Prosecutors say the crime had roots in the state’s growing heroin epidemic.

Brantley didn’t testify during the four days of testimony in the sentencing hearing.