Appellate court upholds death sentence for accomplice in 2001 Fingerhut slaying

WARREN — The Warren-based 11th District Court of Appeals has upheld the death sentence of Nate Jackson, convicted along with Donna Roberts, then 57, in the 2001 Howland murder of Roberts’ ex-husband, Robert Fingerhut.

At the time of the murder, Fingerhut was living with Roberts. Jackson, then 29, and Roberts exchanged letters and phone calls plotting to kill Fingerhut when Jackson was released so Roberts could collect more than $500,000 in life insurance proceeds.

On Monday, the appellate court ruled against Jackson’s request for a new trial and his request for his death sentence to be vacated.

Judge Colleen Mary O’Toole dissented in both decisions, saying she would vacate Jackson’s death sentence and send the matter back to the trial court for another sentencing hearing.