The family members of nine people killed in fatal fires want to see the Akron man prosecutors say is responsible put to death.
That was the consensus the victims’ families shared after sitting through the lengthy and emotional arraignment Wednesday morning for Stanley Ford, who is accused of starting three fires — two that caused deaths — in his neighborhood.
“They didn’t have a choice, so why should he?” said Monique Scott, the daughter of Gloria Jean Hart, who was killed in the first fire in April 2016.
Tony Huggins, the brother of Dennis Huggins, who was killed in the second fire in May, along with his girlfriend and their five children, agreed. Huggins, a pastor of Shelton Temple Prayer Church of God on North Hill and a chaplain at Summa Health, said capital punishment is part of the law.
“I feel like the law is written and established,” Huggins said. “The law is in their hands. They didn’t ask me when they wrote it.”
Ford, 58, pleaded not guilty via video in Summit County Common Pleas Court from the Summit County Jail to 29 charges, including 22 counts of aggravated murder, citing Ford for the nine deaths under different parts of state law.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Ford on the grounds that he killed two or more people, caused deaths during the commission of a felony — arson — and took the lives of children under the age of 13, according to the indictment.
Assistant Chief Summit County Prosecutor Margaret Scott read the 29-page indictment, as required in a capital case. The reading of the indictment is most often waived.
The case was assigned to Judge Christine Croce. Ford will next be in court at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Ford is being held in the jail on a $7 million bond. He showed no emotion during the reading of his indictment, which took nearly an hour and a half.
Investigators say Ford was responsible for three fires, all within a block of his Hillcrest Street home at:
• 719 Fultz St. on April 18, 2016, in which Lindell Lewis, 65, and Gloria Jean Hart, 66, were killed and one man escaped.
• 723 Russell Ave. on Jan. 23, 2017, in which a sport utility vehicle in a woman’s driveway was set on fire.
• 693 Fultz Ave. on May 15, 2017, in which Dennis Huggins, 35, and Angela Boggs, 38, died, along with their five children: Cameron Huggins, 1; Alivia Huggins, 3; Kyle Huggins, 5; Daisia Huggins, 6; and Jared Boggs, 14. The family dog also perished. This was the deadliest fire in Akron’s history.
A dozen members of the fire victim’s families wept, comforted each other and shook their heads sadly during the indictment reading, which included the names of the victims and, for the children, their birth dates.
Both families spoke to members of the media after the arraignment outside of the magistrate’s courtroom.
Tony Huggins said he tried to keep his emotions under control during the arraignment. He said the proceeding brought everything back for him and his family.
“The loss we’ve suffered is great,” he said.
Monique Scott openly wept when she heard her mother’s name during the reading of the indictment.
“I’m just glad that it started and my mom and Lindell will get justice,” she said. “We knew he did it.”
Scott said she wishes another family hadn’t had to suffer before investigators determined who was responsible.
Attorneys Joseph Gorman and Don Malarcik, who are representing Ford, nodded to the family members as they left the courtroom.
“I’m sorry you have to be here,” Malarcik said to them.
Gorman said he and Malarcik haven’t yet received evidence from the prosecutor’s office.
“Stanley is devastated by the accusations,” Gorman said. “He maintains his innocence.”
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @swarsmithabj and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/swarsmith.