Robert Clark evades death penalty in Chumney case

COSHOCTON – Robert R. Clark will serve life in prison without parole in the Jan. 21 deaths of Doyle and Lillian Chumney, of Strasburg.

Clark, 30, of Dennison, pleaded guilty Friday morning to two counts of aggravated murder and five other felonies in Coshocton County Common Pleas Court. His pleas removed the possibility of receiving the death penalty, through a joint recommendation by prosecutors and his attorneys.

Co-defendant, Jeffery C. Stewart, 21, of New Philadelphia, remains in custody while awaiting a December trial on charges of aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, aggravated arson and kidnapping in the case. He does not face the death penalty if convicted.

Clark's plea agreement removed all death penalty and firearms specifications from two aggravated murder charges and other specifications from charges of aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, aggravated arson and two counts of kidnapping.

"This plea was entered into with the complete support of the Chumney family after lengthy discussions with them, and then discussions between themselves and the family as well before getting back to my office and saying that they were in support of the plea," Coshocton County Prosecutor Jason Given said after Friday's hearing.

Given said he thinks prosecutors achieved their goals by removing Clark from society and granting the Chumney family "some semblance of justice and some semblance of closure" in the least stressful manner possible.

Common Pleas Judge Robert Batchelor accepted Clark's pleas Friday, found him guilty and sentenced him to serve two life terms for the Chumneys' deaths and 11 years each on the other charges. He waived fines and ordered all prison terms to be served concurrently.

Batchelor also dismissed eight other aggravated murder charges, which had focused on separate aspects of the killings.

Chumney family members attended Friday's hearing but did not speak and declined to be interviewed by the media.

Clark had been scheduled to stand trial in February, but he waived that right to accept the plea deal.

He appeared in court Friday flanked by his attorneys, Ohio public defenders William Mooney and Kirk McVay. He spoke only when asked by the judge whether he understood his rights, agreed to change his pleas and admitted to his crimes. He answered directly, saying either "Yes," "Yes, sir," or "Yes, I did" when questioned by the judge.

Clark declined to speak on his own behalf before the judge passed sentence.

Batchelor kept his own comments brief.

"Please note, at this time, speaking to the Chumney family, I will not be addressing the defendant with regard to anything other than imposing sentencing in this case," Batchelor said. "I believe that anything that comes from the court today would be a disservice to the honor of Doyle and Lillian. It would not adequately reflect the seriousness of what has taken place here today. There are no other words that I can say. I am sure that you understand that and respect it."

Authorities accused Clark and Stewart of breaking into the Chumneys' home in Tuscarawas County on Jan. 21, robbing, abducting and then killing them. A motorist discovered their burned-out car the following morning near Bakersville, northeast of Coshocton, just inside Coshocton County. Investigators found their bodies inside the car.

Though officials said Doyle, 88, and Lillian, 79, had been shot, Coshocton County Coroner Robert Gwinn later reported that Lillian might have still been alive when the car was set on fire.

Strasburg police Chief Robert Kutcher said the incident began as a home invasion and burglary. Investigators believe a television set was stolen, he said, but were unable to determine what else might have been taken.

Enforcement officials arrested Stewart a few days later after identifying him on a surveillance camera at a gas station. Authorities later arrested Clark in Mohave County, Arizona, following a nationwide manhunt, Given said through a news release.

Clark had been held in the Tuscarawas County jail on $5 million bond since his indictment in March. Batchelor credited him with serving 168 days in jail and remanded him to the state penal system.

jwilliams6@gannett.com

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