Man indicted in deaths of 9 people in 2 Ohio fires

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — A man already charged in a blaze that killed seven people in May has been indicted on aggravated murder charges in that fire and in a second fire that killed two people on the same Ohio street last year, prosecutors said Thursday.

A Summit County grand jury today indicted Stanley Ford, 58, in the May 15 fire in Akron that killed two adults and five children, county prosecutors said. Ford had pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated murder after his May arrest in that blaze and remains jailed on $7 million bond.

The grand jury also indicted the Akron man in an April 2016, fire that killed 66-year-old Lindell Lewis and 65-year-old Gloria Hart and in a vehicle fire on another street in January that didn't involve injuries, authorities said.

Ford's attorney didn't immediately return a call for comment today.

Prosecutors say all three fires were within a block of Ford's home. They wouldn't comment on a possible motive in the fires and said they were unable to discuss evidence in the case.

"Never before in Summit County history has one man been charged with the murders of nine people," Criminal Chief Assistant Prosecutor Margaret Scott said.

In both fatal fires, the victims were trapped and overcome by smoke with no way to escape, Scott said.