By Colin McEwen
Record-Courier staff writer
The four people charged for the severe beating and robbery of a Rootstown man will now face charges for his murder.
A Portage County grand jury handed down new charges on the four allegedly involved in the death of Richard Lowther, 68, of Rootstown.
Lowther was attacked July 2 at his Tallmadge Road home by people looking for money — the attackers made off with $185 in commemorative quarters.
Lowther was severely beaten and left paralyzed from the chest down, with limited use of his arms.
He died July 30 at Akron City Hospital as a result of his injuries.
The four arrested and subsequently charged are Jodi L. Fetty, 27, of 3647 McClintocksburg Road, 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.
On Monday afternoon, the Portage County Sheriff’s Office served indictments on Jonathan Dukes and Oliver for murder, an unclassified felony; and aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery — both first degree felonies.
Darrell Dukes and Fetty, each were served with charges of complicity to murder, an unclassified felony; aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery.
All four will be arraigned in Portage County Common Pleas Court today.
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.
“With the nature of this crime, it wouldn’t have mattered how much money they got,” said Sheriff David Doak. “If he would have lived he would have been paralyzed for the rest of his life. And now he’s dead. It’s ridiculous and senseless for the amount of money they got — it’s just senseless.”