Man pleads not guilty to '95 killing

10/19/2005

A man accused in the 10-year-old shooting death of a dishwasher during a robbery at the Pacific CrabHouse restaurant in Maumee was arraigned yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Christopher Cathcart, 32, pleaded not guilty to one count each of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery. Judge James Bates appointed Toledo attorney Adrian Cimerman to represent Cathcart.

A grand jury indicted Cathcart in the April 30, 1995, slaying of Larry Loose, 55, who was shot when two men came through an unlocked rear door. Another employee was shot in the leg but survived.

Cathcart is serving a 7-to-25-year sentence for the death of Misty Fisher, who was shot during a similar robbery at a South Toledo KFC restaurant on April 12, 1996.

Jamie Madrigal, who was also a suspect in the Pacific CrabHouse robbery but has not been charged, was convicted and sentenced to death in Miss Fisher's murder. However, a federal appellate court overturned the conviction, and he is awaiting retrial in the death-penalty case.

In yesterday's hearing, Judge Bates delayed setting a trial for Cathcart after Dean Mandros, an assistant prosecutor, said a grand jury could be asked to consider more charges against him. Judge Bates continued the case to Nov. 1 when he could select a trial date.