Juvenile arraigned in murder case
Defense asks for gag order; prosecution opposed
Gavon Ramsay appeared in court for his June 5 arraignment. Photo by ALLISON WOOD
MEDINA – The 17-year-old Wadsworth male accused of killing a 98-year-old woman in her home pleaded not guilty to nine counts altogether, including aggravated murder, during a June 5 hearing.
Gavon Ramsay is charged as an adult with four counts of aggravated murder, two counts of murder, one count of kidnapping, one count of aggravated burglary and one count of gross abuse of a corpse.
During the hearing, it was requested Common Pleas Judge Joyce Kimbler read the entire indictment out loud in court; Ramsay later answered he understood the counts, then public defender Jocelyn Stefancin entered a not guilty plea.
Ramsay was previously transferred from juvenile court to adult court after a hearing, a mandatory move due to the charges against him and his age.
After entering a plea, Stefancin said she had filed a motion requesting a gag order, meaning those involved in the case cannot discuss information about it in public.
County Prosecutor Forrest Thompson said he was opposed because gag orders are only granted in rare circumstances and does not believe this case qualifies. He cited legal cases where gag issues were ordered and overruled after media outlets challenged them in court.
He argued there is a standard protocol when making such requests and asked for a full hearing before issuing any order.
Kimbler said because gag orders are only issued in unusual circumstances, she would schedule a hearing for June 13; until then, there are no prohibitions on coverage.
An initial trial date was scheduled for Aug. 6.
Ramsay is accused of killing 98-year-old Margaret Douglas inside her home on Portage Street in Wadsworth around April 6; investigators determined she was last seen the day before.
Her body was found in a closet April 9 by Wadsworth Police the day she was reported missing. It is believed Douglas was strangled.
Ramsay was arrested April 16 in Fairview Park. Police said Douglas’ wallet was found in his bedroom in his Summit Street residence, not far away from Douglas’ address on Portage Street.
Gavon Ramsay is charged as an adult with four counts of aggravated murder, two counts of murder, one count of kidnapping, one count of aggravated burglary and one count of gross abuse of a corpse.
During the hearing, it was requested Common Pleas Judge Joyce Kimbler read the entire indictment out loud in court; Ramsay later answered he understood the counts, then public defender Jocelyn Stefancin entered a not guilty plea.
Ramsay was previously transferred from juvenile court to adult court after a hearing, a mandatory move due to the charges against him and his age.
After entering a plea, Stefancin said she had filed a motion requesting a gag order, meaning those involved in the case cannot discuss information about it in public.
County Prosecutor Forrest Thompson said he was opposed because gag orders are only granted in rare circumstances and does not believe this case qualifies. He cited legal cases where gag issues were ordered and overruled after media outlets challenged them in court.
He argued there is a standard protocol when making such requests and asked for a full hearing before issuing any order.
Kimbler said because gag orders are only issued in unusual circumstances, she would schedule a hearing for June 13; until then, there are no prohibitions on coverage.
An initial trial date was scheduled for Aug. 6.
Ramsay is accused of killing 98-year-old Margaret Douglas inside her home on Portage Street in Wadsworth around April 6; investigators determined she was last seen the day before.
Her body was found in a closet April 9 by Wadsworth Police the day she was reported missing. It is believed Douglas was strangled.
Ramsay was arrested April 16 in Fairview Park. Police said Douglas’ wallet was found in his bedroom in his Summit Street residence, not far away from Douglas’ address on Portage Street.