BCI investigator testifies during Beasley trial, says at least 3 guns used in craigslist killings

AKRON, Ohio - A forensic scientist, who examined bullets found inside all of the craigslist victims, testified on day five of the Richard Beasley murder trial.

Jonathan Gardner, who works in the firearms section for the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification, said a “minimum of three guns” were used to shoot the men who apparently were lured through a bogus craigslist ad that promised a job as a caretaker on a southern Ohio farm.

Gardner testified he examined a lead bullet which was recovered from the arm Scott Davis.

“It was consistent with a .32-caliber gun, most likely a revolver,” Gardner said.

Prosecutors have said Davis is the only survivor of the craigslist shootings. Davis testified and identified Richard Beasley as the man who shot him in November of 2011. Gardner also examined bullets found inside murder victims Timothy Kern, David Pauley and Ralph Geiger.

Four bullets that were taken from Kern’s head came from a .22-caliber pistol, Gardner said.

Gardner said a bullet recovered from Geiger’s body came from a .38-caliber handgun and a bullet recovered from Pauley’s body either came from a .32-caliber or .38-caliber gun.

Pauley and Geiger were shot, killed and buried in a wooded are in Caldwell, Ohio.

Kern’s body was found buried in a shallow grave behind Rolling Acres Mall in Akron.

The jury was also shown surveillance video from a Waffle House in Springfield Township that appeared to show Beasley and Kern meeting.

"A white male, wearing khaki pants, white shoes and a red hat which matches the description of Timothy Kern as provided by his son, Nicholas Kern," said Jack Vickery, a special agent with the FBI.

Joyce Grebelsky testified that in 2011, Beasley asked her to start calling him by a new name: Ralph Geiger.

A prosecutor asked if Beasley gave a reason for the name change.

"He said because he didn't want to go back to jail," Grebelsky said.

After Beasley was arrested, Grebelsky said she received a jailhouse letter from Beasley. It included a hand-drawn map and instructions for her to destroy computers and a wallet at his home on Gridley Avenue in Akron.

The letter also seemed to include a warning: "Do not tell anybody about this."

But Grebelsky called the FBI and investigators found Geiger's wallet with his driver's license, birth certificate and social security card inside of it.

Beasley is facing several counts of aggravated murder.

If convicted, he could get the death penalty.