ASHLAND – The jury in the capital murder case against Shawn Grate found him guilty on every charge and every specification they were asked to consider.
Just three and a half hours after beginning deliberations Monday, the 12 jurors returned their unanimous verdict that Grate killed both Elizabeth Griffith and Stacey Stanley, and that he committed those murders purposely and with prior calculation and design.
The jury found Grate guilty of four counts of aggravated murder, three counts of kidnapping and one count of aggravated robbery.
In addition, the jury found Grate guilty of each of eight specifications to aggravated murder charges. Those specifications make Grate eligible for the death penalty in this case, something the same jury will decide in a second phase of the trial.
Grate had no visible reaction as the verdicts were read.
Grate previously changed his not guilty pleas to guilty for each of the other 15 counts in the 23-count indictment, including four counts of rape, gross abuse of a corpse (2 counts), burglary (4), tampering with evidence, unauthorized use of a vehicle, one of the kidnapping counts, robbery and breaking and entering.
Grate’s guilty pleas included all charges related to Jane Doe, the rape and kidnapping victim who escaped and called 9-1-1 on Sept. 13, 2016, which led to Grate’s arrest.
Grate also admitted in his change of plea that he is a sexually violent predator, and the jury further found he committed kidnapping with a sexual motivation.
After reading each verdict form and asking each juror to verbally affirm their concurrence with the verdict on each charge, Ashland County Common Pleas Court Judge Ron Forsthoefel told the jurors to plan to return May 18 to begin phase two of the trial. That date is subject to change, he said.
During that mitigation phase, also known as the sentencing phase, Grate may give a statement.
The defense may also call witnesses and present evidence about mitigating factors, such as Grate’s mental state. The state may then offer a rebuttal.
The jury will be asked to weigh any mitigating factors against their findings of guilt to determine whether Grate will receive the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
Prosecuting and defense attorneys were unable to comment following the verdict to media as they remain under a gag order through the conclusion of the trial. Jurors also are not allowed to comment until the end of the second phase.
Among those present in the courtroom as the verdicts were read were Becky Chavez and Kurtis Stanley.
Chavez said Griffith lived with her and her husband Brian for seven years starting in 2004. The trial has brought back painful memories of the awful day in 2016 when the Chavez family learned what had happened to the woman who had been like a daughter to them.
Chavez said Griffith was so used to being let down by people in her life that it was difficult for them to convince her to trust the family.
“I think that’s the hardest part. She learned to trust and because she learned to trust, she died,” Chavez said.
Though it doesn’t take away the pain of loss, Chavez said she was glad to hear the jury’s verdict Monday.
“I hope he gets the death penalty,” she said.
Kurtis Stanley said he wants people to remember his mother, Stacey Stanley, rather than to focus on her killer.
“It’s not about Shawn. It’s about my mother and about this other lady, Elizabeth,” Kurtis Stanley said.
Kurtis Stanley, who was surrounded by other family members in the courtroom, also said, “I’m thankful they came to a guilty verdict because he is a guilty man for what he’s done.”
