AKRON, Ohio — A Summit County jury has found a 34-year-old Akron man guilty in connection with a 2022 murder.
According to a release from Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich, Luther Easter was found guilty of the following charges related to the death of 34-year-old Dartanian Howard in September of 2022:
- Aggravated Murder – a Special Felony
- Murder – a Special Felony
- Kidnapping – a Felony of the 1st Degree
- Tampering With Evidence – a Felony of the 3rd Degree
“Thank you to the jurors who came to this decision to hold Luther Easter responsible for Dartanian Howard’s death,” said Kolkovich in a statement. “Today’s verdict is one step in bringing justice for Mr. Howard and his family.”
Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Tammy O’Brien will sentence Easter on April 2 at 1 p.m.
On September 18, 2022, the Akron Police Department responded to the area of Flower Court and North Howard Street, just north of the “Y” Bridge, for a report of a body lying in the street. Officers found Howard, who had been shot several times, in a parking lot.
Prosecutors say DNA recovered from the scene matched that of 32-year-old Laurelin Flanagan. Investigators determined Flanagan lured Howard to the scene where Easter and an unnamed accomplice killed him.
On September 12, 2023, Flanagan pled guilty to the following charges:
- Voluntary Manslaughter with a Gun Specification – a Felony of the 1st Degree
- Tampering With Evidence – a Felony of the 3rd Degree
Flanagan was sentenced to 13 to 18 years in prison.
