By Mike Sever
Record-Courier staff writer
A Rootstown man who was paralyzed after an attack and robbery at his home earlier this month died at 6:20 a.m. Thursday at Akron City Hospital.
Richard A. Lowther, 68, was attacked July 2 at his Tallmadge Road home by people looking for money. He was severely beaten and left paralyzed from the chest down, with limited use of his arms.
In recent days Lowther was reported to be rallying. He had been off sedation for about a week after pneumonia-related complications followed surgery to repair his broken and dislocated neck. He was on a breathing machine at the critical care unit of the hospital earlier this week.
An autopsy was performed Thursday morning at the Summit County Medical Examiner’s office. The cause of death is pending further examination.
Four people have been charged in connection with the attack and robbery. They are: Jodi L. Fetty, 27, of Diamond; Darrell L. Dukes, 22, of 3075 S.R. 59, Ravenna; Jonathan H. Dukes, 23, of 3865 Blake Ave., Ravenna; and Cortez M. Oliver, 20, of Fairlawn.
All four remain in jail on $1 million bonds.
A grand jury indicted the four suspects on one count each of felonious assault, a second-degree felony; aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; and aggravated burglary, also a first-degree felony.
The first-degree felony charges carry a potential sentence of three to 10 years in jail. The felony assault charge carries a potential sentence of two to eight years in prison.
The four may now face more serious charges.
Portage County Sheriff David Doak said he was going to meet with the Portage County prosecutor “to discuss where we’re going to go with it from here.”
Asked if more severe charges could result, Doak said “If I have anything to say about it, there will be.”
Portage County Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci said it is up to the Portage County grand jury to determine what those charges might be.
“We will be asking the grand jury to reconsider the charges,” Vigluicci said Thursday morning.
According to the sheriff’s office investigation, Fetty approached Lowther’s home at about 2:30 a.m. July 2. She told Lowther she was having car trouble and asked to use the phone.
Oliver and Jonathan Dukes then assaulted Lowther before stealing a collection of commemorative state quarters and fleeing in a vehicle driven by Darrell Dukes, according to the sheriff’s office.
A neighbor spotted Lowther lying on the ground in his front yard after the suspects had fled.
Deputies arrested Fetty when she tried to turn in 740 of the quarters — a total $185 — later that day at the Ravenna Giant Eagle. Fetty’s arrest led authorities to the three men allegedly involved.
A fund has been set up to help pay for Lowther’s medical treatments. Donations can be made at any area KeyBank branch to the “Richard Lowther Medical Fund,” or donations can be mailed to the Richard Lowther Medical Fund, PO Box 150, Rootstown, OH, 44272.
Lowther was active in several area social clubs. He was a member of Parents Without Partners, the Ravenna Moose Lodge, the Kent Masonic Lodge, the Kent Canadian Club, the Kent Coin Club and the United Methodist Church of Kent.