Disgruntled neighbor who killed 9 by arson gets life sentence

An Ohio man was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday for killing nine people in his neighborhood in arson fires.

Stanley Ford, 62, was ordered by Judge Christine Croce to serve the terms consecutively.

Ford was found guilty in September to 26 of 29 counts against him, including aggravated murder and aggravated arson, for the fires prosecutors said he set because of feuds with neighbors.

Prosecutors said Ford killed a couple in a 2016 blaze and then two adults and five children in a fire the next year.

Ford has maintained his innocence.

This undated file photo released by the Akron Police Department shows Stanley Ford..
This undated file photo released by the Akron Police Department shows Stanley Ford.
AP

During his trial, prosecutors presented surveillance footage, testimony from neighbors and security alarm records to pin the crimes on Ford.

Ford’s attorney argued at trial that his client could not be identified in the surveillance videos and said that other potential suspects were identified.

The lawyer said said Ford plans to appeal the sentence.

With Post wires

source: nypost.com