Posted on 04/11/2017 7:58:15 PM PDT by TaxPayer2000
An Ohio man accused of raping a 10-year-old girl and setting a fire that killed her and her grandparents jumped to his death from a fourth-floor courthouse balcony on Monday before he could face trial, reports say.
Robert Seman Jr., 48, was walking through the Mahoning County Courthouse with police in Youngstown after a pre-trial hearing when he quickly ran from the officers and jumped over a banister at around 9:30 a.m., WKBN reports.
I saw a deputy at the railing, and I saw this white object falling to the ground, a reporter at the scene, Joe Gorman, told WKBN. I knew what it was, and I just screamed.
Footage obtained by WLS-TV showed Seman Jr. wearing tan pants and a white shirt as he calmly walked alongside officers. Soon, he is shown running from the police and climbing over the banister.
Seman Jr. died just one day before jury selection was set to begin on his triple murder trial, the Associated Press reports. He was accused of raping 10-year-old Corinne Gump then setting the March 2015 fire that killed Gump and her grandparents, William, 63, and Judith Smith, 61, at their home.
The blaze occurred the day Seman Jr. was set the day the mans rape trial was set to begin in Youngstown, the AP reports. Prosecutors said that burns were found on the mans body at the time of his arrest.
Many were surprised at Seman Jr.s act on Monday, with Sheriff Jerry Green saying that the man looked to be in pretty good spirits.
He was talking about the future of his trial, and he just decided to jump.
Lisa Cappitti, Gumps stepmother, told the Youngstown Vindicator that the family doesnt know how to feel as a result of Seman Jr.s death.
Its sad, she said. Theres no justice at all.
However, one of the Schmidts neighbors held a different sentiment.
I hollered, Hallelujah! Jean McCammond told the publication. Lucifer is digesting the weirdest, meanest soul that was ever on earth.
Ohio Man Jumps to His Death in Courthouse Before Trial for Raping Girl, 10, and Killing Her and Grandparents
LINK TO VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgoZhXV1I6g
Well that’s that. What’s on TV?
Of course we don't know if he was found guilty by a jury of his peers.
Sounds like an economical solution. I wish more dirt bags saved the taxpayers money and off’d themselves.
“There’s no justice at all”.
Say what?
All courthouses should have high balconies with low railings
It’s not the fall that kills you, you know. It’s the concrete floor.
thanks for the giggle
Clean up on aisle 7.
He nailed the landing huh?
Looks like the Old Women didn’t teach him to fly after all.
A man without honor takes the honorable way out.
He saved the state a ton of money.
Providing he was guilty, couldn’t have turned out better.
They need to go back to shackling these people on trial.
Nobody is fooled. This is not the DMV, they are not at Traffic Court over a lane change. They are on trial, because they are accused of serious crimes, deadly crimes. Having him stroll down the corridor in his office clothes has a high price. Chain their wrists, shackle their ankles, and attach a chain linked tether with a Sheriff or Marshall holding on tight.
People in that situation are like cornered rats. Some go without a struggle, other will chose this moment for fight, of flight. Similar to those Cows or Bulls that occasionally break away from the slaughterhouse. Difference, of course, being that those Cows or Bulls did not ruin some child’s life by abuse.
I hope he felt terror when he was falling and I hope he was alive and felt pain for at least a few seconds when he hit.
accused rapist and murderer of three people, and he is just let to saunter down the hall like they’re going to lunch?...
I’m just glad that he saved the taxpayers a ton of money.
On the other hand, what if he was innocent.....
It was very lucky that he did not fall on someone, he was a big guy and would have likely killed anyone he landed on.
With that in mind there needs to be designated landing zones under the low railings.
Basically a happy ending provided he was guilty. However, it would have been justice for him to receive some prison love.
I think he found an easy way out preferable to the treatment a child molester would get in prison.
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