Convicted Ohio killer gets life in prison

Vernon Spence, who bound and executed three young people in a house near Ohio State University two years ago, will spend the rest of his life in prison, a judge in Franklin County, Ohio, ruled Tuesday.

Common Pleas Judge Dale A. Crawford gave Spence, 31, a life sentence with no chance of parole for each of the murders.

Spence was convicted last week of aggravated murder in the deaths of Ohio State University student Kayla Hurst, 21, of Granville; her boyfriend, Aaron Grexa; and Eric Hlass, 22, of Arkansas.

Grexa, a 1998 graduate of Hempfield Area High School, was 23 years old.

An additional 53 years were imposed for convictions for aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, kidnapping and using a gun during the crimes.

Though the parents of the victims were subdued at the hearing, Crawford had harsh words for Spence, calling the killings ''unexplainable, senseless, cold-blooded, calculated.''

''You're no better than a terrorist in sheep's clothing,'' Crawford told him.

Spence said nothing. He only asked, through his attorney, that Crawford appoint a lawyer to appeal his case.

Spence called two friends to help him rob Grexa, who had been selling marijuana from the house he shared with Hlass at 235 E. 11th Ave. in Columbus.

Todd Bensonhaver and Rodell K. Rahmann testified they stole 5 pounds of marijuana and $70, bound the three with stereo wire and lined them up in a bedroom the night of July 23, 2003. Spence ordered them out and they heard shooting as they ran.

Grexa, Hurst and Hlass each were shot in the back of the head.

Hurst's father, Rufus, was the only parent to speak at the sentencing. He thanked the Columbus police, prosecutors, the judge and even the defense attorneys.

''We have lost something precious,'' Hurst said. ''Time may make things less hard, but it will never erase the horror.''

Spence's relatives sat quietly in the courtroom and declined to talk. Last week, they pleaded for Spence's life before jurors deadlocked Saturday at eight for the death penalty, three against and one undecided. A unanimous decision is required for the death penalty; the jury instead recommended life in prison with no chance of parole.