Wood County OKs transfer of accused killer to Michigan

7/19/2005

BOWLING GREEN Prosecutors agreed yesterday to allow a former Sylvania man charged with killing a Northwood woman in 1991 to return to a Michigan prison because of his medical needs.

Ralph Doren, 55, was serving a 30 to 60-year prison term at the Gus Harrison Correctional Facility in Adrian when he was indicted by a Wood County grand jury last October on a charge of aggravated murder stemming from the June 7, 1991, slaying of Deana Meeks, 19. Her throat was slashed, and the home she shared with her mother and her mother s boyfriend was ransacked.

Assistant Wood County Prosecutor Paul Dobson said Doren has medical needs that can be better met at the state prison than at the Wood County jail. Doren waived his appearance at his next pretrial hearing in September, Mr. Dobson said, and tentatively waived future appearances where it was not necessary for him to be in court.

Doren has had two heart attacks in prison and suffers from diabetes and hepatitis, said his attorney, David Klucas.