Jury begins deliberating, verdict not reached in 2006 triple homicide case

Stoney Thompson, 28, is charged with three counts of murder in the 2006 shooting deaths of Kenneth Nicholson, Todd Archambeau, and Michael York in a North Toledo residence. In closing, the prosecution told the jury that the killings were planned and carried out to send a message that 'you don't steal from Stoney.'

A Lucas County jury yesterday began deliberations in the first of two trials for Toledo brothers accused in a triple homicide in the city's north end in 2006.

Deliberating in the trial of Stoney Thompson, 28, the jury of seven men and five women had not reached a verdict at 10:30 p.m. last night and went home.

The trial began last week. Common Pleas Judge Ruth Ann Franks, who is presiding over it, told jurors to return to the courtroom today at 8:30 this morning to resume their deliberations.

Thompson, and his brother, Goldy, are each charged with three counts of aggravated murder, each with gun specifications, in the deaths of three men found inside a home about 4:30 a.m. Oct. 24, 2006.

If convicted, they face up to life in prison.

Kenneth Nicholson; his brother-in-law, Todd Archambeau, and Michael York were found dead inside the bloody boarded-up house at 410 Ohio St., where Archambeau lived.

All three victims were shot with a .25-caliber gun. Archambeau and York were stabbed.

The other defendant, Goldy Thompson, 31, is scheduled for trial on July 7.

Judge Franks handled several questions from jurors over the almost nine hours of deliberations yesterday, including one on what constitutes the definition of aiding and abetting.

During a 45-minute closing argument, Assistant County Prosecutor Jevne Meader said the killings were carried out to avenge the theft of $10,000 and three ounces of cocaine that belonged to Stoney Thompson.

A witness testified that she was in the Archambeau home on Oct. 23 when he and the other two victims hatched a plan to break into Stoney's apartment. She said she heard York tell the others he knew where the defendant kept cash and drugs.

Mr. Meader said the victims had stolen earlier from the defendants, and the killings were planned and carried out to send a message that "you don't steal from Stoney."

"The theft of drugs and money on the night before the killings was the last straw," he said.

A woman who lives near the home on Ohio Street testified that she saw a white man running away from the home and later a black man who came out of the back door of the dwelling after she heard gunfire. She identified the black male in court as Goldy Thompson.

In his closing arguments, defense attorney Drew Griffith cautioned jurors to be careful of the statements made by prosecution witnesses who got deals on their prison sentences in return for their testimony.

Contact Mark Reiter at:

markreiter@theblade.com

or 734-241-3610.