Spencer Twp. man, 20, gets life for ’13 slaying

W. Toledo burglary left 1 dead, 1 hurt

6/12/2014

Arguing that mental health problems could not excuse the violence of a burglary that left one man dead and another wounded last year, a Lucas County judge sentenced a 20-year-old Spencer Township man Wednesday to life in prison.

Antonio Taylor, Jr., of 9641 Oak Shadow Ct. pleaded guilty August 30 to murder, felonious assault, and aggravated burglary, each with firearms specifications, in the April 29, 2013, fatal shooting of Nathanial Phillips, 20, of Toledo and the wounding of Michael Kohlhofer, 20, of Holland in a West Toledo apartment. Taylor will be eligible for parole after 35 years in prison.

“As I thought about the medical and psychological issues that you have dealt with in your life. ... I said to myself, there is nothing in there that justifies what you did,” Common Pleas Judge Gene Zmuda said. “There are hundreds, and I’‍d say thousands, of people in our community who suffer from ... the same conditions, and yet don’‍t do what you did, which is a cold-blooded killing of another human being.”

Taylor and Levi Jackson, 18, of 352 Oak View Ct. in Spencer Township invaded an apartment on Twin Oaks Drive in search of money and drugs at the direction of Cody Ramsey, 17. Taylor shot Mr. Phillips and Mr. Kohlhofer during the robbery attempt.

Jackson pleaded guilty May 16 to aggravated robbery and felonious assault. He was sentenced June 4 to 12 years in prison.

Last year, Ramsey was sentenced to serve at least two years in an Ohio Department of Youth Services facility.

Taylor declined to speak before sentencing. His attorney, Paul Geller asked the court to consider Taylor’s age and medical records.

Mr. Phillips’‍ mother, Bridget Holland, said Taylor “took a great person” when he killed her son, but she is working to forgive.

“At first, I was devastated. Revenge was in my soul,” Ms. Holland said. “I don’‍t find that today.”