Family gets no explanation of March murder

The Librarian · January 7, 2017

A 36-year-old Canton man admitted to murdering a Jackson Township man last March. Lance L. Rankin was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison on Friday.

By Ed Balintâ€©Repository local news editor

CANTON Relatives of Stephen Cork sat in court Friday waiting for the man who murdered their loved one to offer an explanation.

Maybe he’d express remorse, or give just a few words about why the 64-year-old Cork, a Jackson Township resident, was killed.

All they got from Lance Rankin was silence. But they also got the certainty of him spending 15 years to life in prison after the 36-year-old Canton man admitted to killing Cork, an acquaintance, last March.

Rankin pleaded guilty to murder and several other charges, including felonious assault, grand theft, receiving stolen property and tampering with evidence. Stark County Common Pleas Judge Chryssa Hartnett accepted a plea agreement reached between the defendant and the county prosecutor’s office, avoiding a trial scheduled to begin Monday.

Hartnett also sentenced Rankin to prison time on the other charges, but the terms will run at the same time as the murder sentence.

“It’s cases like this that just underscore how incredibly senseless this type of action is,” Hartnett said at Friday’s hearing. “… It’s senseless because it takes an individual away … but you’ve taken yourself from your family, so as is usually the case, we have two devastated families.”

Two car chases

Last March, Cork’s body was found in Rankin’s home in the 1200 block of Worley Avenue NW. Rankin was arrested after leading authorities on two separate vehicle chases, including one involving North Canton police.

Rankin had been driving Cork’s vehicle, a Dodge Dart, reaching a speed of more than 100 miles per hour. In another pursuit, Rankin struck an Ohio Highway Patrol car before he crashed his vehicle on Interstate 77 near the Tuscarawas Street exit. Cork had been reported missing, and his body was found by police at Rankin’s home hours before the second car chase ended, according to court records filed in the case by the prosecutor’s office.

Dennis Barr, the chief criminal prosecutor, said the victim’s family supported the plea agreement. Nobody witnessed the murder, he said, explaining that the prosecution did not find the weapon used to stab Cork in the neck. No DNA evidence linking Rankin to the homicide was found.

However, video evidence showed the defendant walking in and out of the restroom at a Burger King on Cleveland Avenue NW, Barr said. A Burger King employee later found Cork’s wallet and cellphone in the restroom trash after he had heard the phone vibrating as someone tried to reach Cork.

The victim also suffered severe head injuries after being hit by a hard object. The Stark County Coroner’s Office determined that Cork bled to death from the stabbing and head injuries, Barr said.

Rankin did not make any statements to investigators, Barr said. Authorities were unable to determine a motive in the crime. Lacy Cork, the victim’s daughter, said she and other family members did not know Rankin.

“After discussing the evidence with the family,” Barr said, “they felt it was better to make sure we get (a 15 years-to-life prison term) as opposed to something less.” Added Barr, “You never know what’s going to happen when you go to trial.”

Grieving family

During Friday’s sentencing hearing, friends and family of the victim addressed both the court and Rankin, who didn’t comment during the proceeding.

Louetta Contos, the victim’s sister, told of the devastation Rankin has caused. The sister spoke of her faith as a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

“I have a wonderful hope of seeing my brother again because Jehovah is a God of love, mercy and justice,” she said.

Brandi Lake, the victim’s niece, spoke through a wavering voice and tears.

“This is very difficult,” she said. “I had hoped that you’d make a statement to us.”

Of the murder, Lake said, “It has torn us up one side and down the other.”

Brad Clendenin, a friend of Stephen Cork’s, directed firm, intense comments at the defendant, who sat next to defense attorney Wayne Graham.

“What you really failed to do (is) you didn’t kill Steve Cork,” he said, gesturing to relatives seated in the courtroom gallery. He said that the victim is alive in his loved ones. Clendenin is the boyfriend of Jamie Cork, the victim’s daughter.

Then, he added, “Every day, let these demons suck the soul out of your body because you know you deserve it.”

http://www.indeonline.com/news/20170106/family-gets-no-explanation-of-march-murder

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