Crowd in court applauds death sentence for Shawn Grate

ASHLAND - Convicted killer Shawn Grate was greeted Friday by a sea of purple T-shirts and the seething hatred of the people who wore them.

Several dozen loved ones of murder victim Stacey Stanley wore T-shirts that said "Stanley Strong." A number of them delivered victim impact statements at Grate's sentencing.

As expected, Ashland County Common Pleas Judge Ron Forsthoefel sentenced Grate to death for the aggravated murders of Stanley, 43, and Elizabeth Griffith, 29.

The judge set the execution date for Sept. 13 — two years to the day of Grate's arrest. With appeals, it will likely be a number of years before Grate is executed.

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Forsthoefel pronounced the sentence shortly before 11:30 a.m. The crowd in the packed courtroom broke out in applause.

Grate was convicted May 14 on multiple charges related to the 2016 murders of Griffith and Stanley. The jury recommended the death sentence.

Forsthoefel also sentenced Grate to a minimum of 90 years to life in prison for the other charges.

Stanley's loved ones described her as a kind woman who liked to help others and loved to cook. Griffith's family said she was a good Christian.

More: 911 call: "I've been abducted"

In all, 11 people addressed the court and Grate.

Kurtis Stanley, one of Stacey's sons, was the first. He gave the longest statement of the morning.

"I've been waiting a long time to see you, man," he said to Grate. "I sat here and watched everything you done. You took my mom, my daughter's grandma, all that stuff."

Kurtis Stanley said he tried to talk to Grate while he was in jail, but Grate declined the visit.

"You don't scare me. You don't scare any of the people here," he said.

Stanley's son said he would likely never forgive Grate. He said he hoped the killer would get life in prison, saying the death penalty was the "easy way out."

More: Uncle says Stacey died to save another woman's life

"You live with the punishment, but you don't live with the hurt," Kurtis said. "I don't know what to say to you. I can barely even look at you."

Kurtis talked about picking out a casket for his mother and having the casket closed for the services because of the condition of his mother's body.

Two of Stacey's brothers made no effort to hide their contempt for the man who took their sister away from them.

"You're a monster, dude, a monster," Scott Adams said. "There's so much anger inside of me built up because of you."

Scott kept his comments brief.

"Real justice would be for you to come with me for about five minutes. Burn in hell," he said as he headed back to his seat.

Nick Adams followed his brother to the podium.

More: Grate case: Ashland victims were strangled, preliminary autopsy says

"Time and time again he has re-victimized our families," Nick said. "For eight days, we had to listen and look at the photos of my baby sister and Elizabeth."

He described his sister as loving and generous.

"Never in my life have I felt such hatred toward a human being, if you want to call yourself one," Nick said. "The defendant may have killed my sister, but he will never kill our memories."

Like his brother, Nick said he wanted to hurt Grate.

"The next time I see you will be with a needle in your arm," he said. "I hope the government will not let you go, but if they do, I will find you."

Jeana Stanley is Stacey's older sister.

"My life has not been the same since she was selfishly taken away," Jeana said. "Stacey had the biggest heart of anyone I've ever known."

She said her father's health has deteriorated since Stacey's murder, noting he suffered a heart attack and a stroke that has left him partially paralyzed.

"It was not just Stacey's life that was taken," Jeana said. "All of our lives were taken in some way."

Several members of Griffith's family also addressed the court. Judy Griffith was Elizabeth's mother.

More: Elizabeth Griffith remembered by loved ones

"You are evil," she told Grate. "God tells me to forgive you. Only because He said it, I will forgive you, but I don't feel it in my heart."

Sabrina Culler, one of Griffith's cousins, referenced the third victim in the case, Jane Doe, who called police and escaped while Grate was holding her.

Culler asked Grate if he would have killed Doe, too. He nodded yes.

Grate did address the court before the loved ones gave their impact statements.

"I hope you all can move on from this," he said. "I can't say I'm normal, but I know right from wrong."

Grate said "justice would be served" and started to cry.

"This mess, I'm sorry for all human beings ... I'm sorry," he said. "I can't change nothing or I would, not for me, but for you guys."

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Outside the courtroom, Prosecutor Chris Tunnell spoke to the media for the first time since Forsthoefel issued a gag order.

Tunnell said there was never talk of a plea agreement.

"It was clear from the outset that we would need to put death on the table," he said. "We never wavered in that conviction."

Assisting Tunnell were special prosecutors Michael McNamara and Mark Weaver.

The prosecutor said there has been something positive to emerge from the sadness, noting the community rallied together after the murders. He said Ashland residents are now more vigilant.

"There's an increased awareness that the troubles of the world can come to Ashland," Tunnell said.

Defense attorney Robert Whitney handled the case with son Rolf. He declined comment.

Outside the courthouse, loved ones from both families gathered on the steps with purple and yellow balloons. Ron Stanley, Stacey's uncle, led them in singing "Amazing Grace."

The ones left behind released the balloons and looked up at the sky.

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

Twitter: @MNJCaudill

More on Shawn Grate case:

•Juror in Shawn Grate murder case speaks out on trial

• Jury: Shawn Grate deserves to die

• Witness: Shawn Grate assaulted me 'in every way imaginable'

• Collision course: Witnesses trace movements of Shawn Grate, victim

Case background

Shawn Grate, 41, was convicted May 14 of eight remaining counts and all specifications.

Two aggravated murder counts and one count of kidnapping relate to Elizabeth Griffith, 29, who was Grate's first Ashland victim, on Aug. 17, 2016.

Two other aggravated murder counts, two kidnapping counts and a single count of aggravated robbery pertain to Stacey Stanley, 43.

In the counts involving Stacey, the aggravated murder charges carry the same specifications as the ones related to Griffith.

The specifications pertaining to kidnapping said Grate acted with a sexual motivation and is a sexually violent predator.

Midway through his trial, Grate pleaded guilty to 15 other counts, including all those related to Jane Doe, whose call to 911 and escape on Sept. 13, 2016, led to Grate's arrest and the recovery of the bodies of Griffith and Stanley at 363 Covert Court, where Grate had been squatting.

Both women had been strangled.