Posted on 03/21/2006 3:03:05 PM PST by xzins
Police: Man Killed Teen for Walking on Lawn By LISA CORNWELL ASSOCIATED PRESS
BATAVIA, Ohio (AP) -
0321dv-lawn-shooting A man who neighbors say was devoted to his meticulously kept lawn was charged with murder in the shooting of a 15-year-old boy who apparently walked across his yard.
Charles Martin called 911 on Sunday afternoon, saying calmly: "I just killed a kid."
Police, who released the call's contents, said Martin also told the dispatcher: "I've been harassed by him and his parents for five years. Today just blew it up."
Larry Mugrage, whose family lived next door, was shot in the chest with a shotgun. The high school freshman was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Martin, 66, allegedly told police he had several times had problems with neighbors walking on his lawn. He remained jailed without bond Monday. His jailers said no attorney was listed for him.
Neighbors said Martin lived alone quietly, often sitting in front of his one-story home with its neat lawn, well-trimmed shrubbery and flag pole with U.S. and Navy flags flying.
Joanne Ritchie, 46, said Mugrage was known as "a good kid," but she always also considered Martin to be friendly.
Union Township is near Batavia, about 20 miles east of Cincinnati.
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Associated Press Writer Dan Sewell in Cincinnati contributed to this report.
Sounds like more than just walking on the lawn.
nah in Ohio this nutcase will get the needle.....
Doesn't matter. Even formal written admissions get thrown out fairly regularly when things go to court. What may seem at first to be supporting or secondary evidence may become the centerpiece of the prosecution's case.
I'm going to assume you haven't read the facts in this case. If you have then I'm going to assume you are a nut job also.
Geez, a warning shot would have been even too much.
I am from that area, and my guess is that he WAS harrassed for 5 years by this kid and his family. There are a LOT of ignoramusses there, and it's not just the killer.
Good fences make good neighbors.
That was my first thought...however, this is Ohio.
In the three towns where my wife's aunts live, fences are not allowed at all; and any kind of hedge is "unneighborly", and is so resticted in size & set-backs as to be useless.
The concepts of "private property" & "privacy" seemed completely foreign to them also.
Plus this is a very countrified place.
There are a WHOLE bunch of nuts running around believing the maniac murderers version of events.
How do people keep dogs?
Mom and dad always said to stay off the grass.
not that "grass"...
Contrary to what others have been posting on this thread, the man doesn't sound like a freak to me. I seldom have sympathy for those who commit murder, but in this case my heart goes out to that man. Apparently he put up with harassment for five years, and then just snapped. (I'd almost be willing to bet that he'd recently had heart or other other medication changed recently. It's amazing the PMS-style symptoms elderly men exhibit while getting adjusted to new medications.)
None of this excuses what he did. But my prayers go out to that man as much as they do to the victim's family. (You know that as a gun-owner, that guy isn't going to get any sympathy or "understanding" from the press.)
Click for more info and picture... gannett paper so only can link
Makes you wonder about folks here doesn't it?
Yeah, I'd say that there was probably some vandalism prior to this...messed with his flags, perhaps.
Doesn't justify shooting the kid, unless he was to break into the house, of course.
When I was growing up, if the neighbor told me to stay off the lawn, I DID! Back then, he could just come out and paddle my behind...then my Dad would do the same when I got home!!
Different times we live in...no one respects others' property.
Maybe some of this guy's screws weren't as tight as they should have been, but what part of "don't walk on my lawn" don't people understand?
Staying off the lawn is one thing.
Offing offenders with a couple 410 rounds to the chest is an entirely different matter.
Just curiosity on my part, but I wonder what load in had in the rounds?
Just curiosity on my part, but I wonder what load in had in the rounds?
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