Jury recommends death penalty for man convicted in triple homicide

Curtis Clinton spoke for 1 hour on the witness stand in his Erie County case

11/12/2013

SANDUSKY –  An Erie County jury today recommended the death penalty for a man convicted in the triple homicide of a woman and her children.

A sentence in the case will be handed down on Friday in Common Pleas Court.

Earlier today, Curtis Clinton, 42, denied repeatedly any involvement in the murders of Heather Jackson, 23, and her children, Celina Jackson, 3, and Wayne Jackson, Jr., 20 months on Sept. 8, 2012.

Clinton, who spoke for more than hour, said he went to Ms. Jackson’s home that night and they had sex, but he said he left the residence and went home.

“I can look each one of you in the eyes and tell you I didn’t do this,” he said.

Clinton was the only person to take the witness stand during the penalty phase of the proceeding, which was held today.

The jury of eight men and four women began deliberations late this morning after receiving instructions from Judge Tygh Tone. In addition to the death penalty, the jury could have recommended life in prison without the possibility of parole, life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years, or life in prison with the chance of parole after 25 years.

The panel found Curtis guilty last week of five counts of aggravated murder, three counts of rape, and one count of aggravated burglary.