As the trial in the Craigslist Killings trial continued Monday, jurors were shown the last text messages sent by one of the men shot and killed by alleged mastermind Richard Beasley.
NewsChannel5 reports that Timothy Kern texted his son Nicholas November 13, saying he was leaving to go work as a farmhand in Noble County.
One of the texts read, "Well son, I'm about to go. I will miss you. In the long run this will be better. I'll be up a lot and you and your friends can come visit when you can. You are very special."
The text messages were read in court by Allan Buxton, a computer forensics specialist with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Buxton captured several screen shots of Kern's phone. Investigators believe that Kern was killed just hours after he sent that text to his son.
Last Friday, the jury was shown surveillance video appearing to show Kern meeting with Beasley at the Waffle House in Springfield Township. Kern's body was discovered in a shallow grave behind Rolling Acres Mall. His found was found on him.
Beasley is accused in the murder plot centered around luring men through a phony online job ad promising work as a caretaker of a farm in Noble County.
He is charged with the murders of not only Tim Kern, but David Pauley and Ralph Geiger and the attempted murder of Scott Davis.
Beasley could get the death penalty if convicted.
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