Toledoan pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter

3/25/2013

A Toledo man who confessed last year to a 2008 killing in central Toledo, pleaded guilty today to charges related to the death.

Ronald Martin, 61, pleaded guilty today in Lucas County Common Pleas court to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated arson stemming from the Sept. 17, 2008, death of Lynette Lenora Reid, 40.  

The victim’s death initially was ruled accidental because of a toxic level of drugs in her system, but that finding was changed to homicide last year after Martin walked into the downtown Safety Building and confessed to Toledo Police Det. Bart Beavers that he was responsible for Ms. Reid’s death. 

Police say that Martin admitted to strangling the woman and then setting on fire the mattress she lay on, while they were doing drugs in an abandoned house in the 1800 block of Nesslewood Avenue.

While the charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, Mr. Anderson told the court the plea agreement included an agreed-upon, 17-year prison sentence. Also as part of the agreement, two counts of murder are to be dismissed.

Mr. Anderson said both the detective and the victim’s family had consented to the plea agreement.

Judge Myron Duhart scheduled sentencing for April 29.

- Jennifer Feehan