Displaying items by tag: Stanley Ford

A Summit County judge has ordered another psychiatric evaluation at an outside facility of accused Akron arsonist and murderer Stanley Ford. 

News 5 is reporting that Ford, who was initially uncooperative with his legal team, was previously evaluated by a court psychologist and that the results were inconclusive. 

Ford, set three different fires in his Fultz St. neighborhood in Akron, two of them deadly. The first deadly fire in 2016 left two people dead, while the second deadly fire in 2017 killed seven, including five children. 

Earlier this week, according to the report, Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Christine Croce ordered Ford be sent to Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare's facility in Columbus for evaluation of whether or not he is competent to stand trial. 

Jury selection was supposed to begin Tuesday, August 6th, but is likely delayed given the new psychiatric evaluation order. 

Suspected Akron arsonist Stanley Ford, 58, has entered a "not guilty" plea to 29 charges against him related to two deadly house fires that left a total of 9 people dead, and another car fire. 

Ford was arraigned in Summit County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday morning, where Judge Christine Croce left bond at $7 million. He's charged with 29 total counts, including 22 counts of aggravated murder. He's pled not guilty to all of the charges against him.  

Meanwhile, the family of the victims killed in the April 18, 2016 fire, says they are in favor of the death penalty for Ford.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for next week in Summit County.

Akron Police and Fire Investigators say the man accused of setting the fire that killed a family of 7 in their home on Fultz Street in Akron back in May is suspected in two other fires, one that claimed more victims. 

Stanley Ford, 58, of Hillcrest Street, was originally charged in the May 15, 2017, fire that killed 7 members of the Boggs/Huggins family, including 5 children. In that case, Ford is charged with 1 count of aggravated arson and 7 counts of aggravated murder. On Thursday, the Deputy Chief Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Margaret Scott announced the additional aggravated arson, aggravated murder, and more charges Thursday. The additional charges are connected to another house fire on Fultz Street, just a few doors down from the May fire, that left an Akron couple dead, and a car fire. There were no injuries as a result of the car fire. In total, Ford is facing 22 counts of aggravated murder, 2 counts of aggravated arson, 1 additional count of arson, and several more charges. "Never before in Summit County history has a suspect been charged with the murders of 9 people," Scott said. 

"This is the worst crime... in the history of this city," Akron Police Chief James Nice said during the press conference, adding that he was at the scene of both house fires and witnessed the tragic nature of the crimes, calling them "horrific." 

Ford remains in Summit County Jail, awaiting his next court appearance, Wednesday, August 2nd.