An Akron woman appeared stunned Monday afternoon when she heard that a Summit County jury had found her guilty of shooting and killing her boyfriend in January.
Kerieda Beavers sat with her hands over her eyes. As the jurors were polled, she choked back sobs, her shoulders shaking.
After deliberating for two days, the jury found Beavers not guilty of one murder charge, but guilty of a second murder charge and felonious assault. She faces life in prison with parole eligibility after 18 years when she is sentenced in Summit County Common Pleas Court at 9 a.m. Dec. 16.
Beavers, 22, of Akron, is accused of shooting and killing Tevael Parker, also 22 and of Akron, in the head after they argued on the return trip to a corner store for beer at about 1 a.m. Jan. 9 in the 1000 block of Weehawken Place.
Beavers’ attorneys argued that she should be acquitted because of a lack of scientific evidence pointing to her as the shooter and possible alternatives for who might be responsible. Prosecutors, however, maintained Beavers doing the shooting was the most logical explanation. She was the only person known to be with Parker at the time.
After hearing a week of testimony, the jury deliberated for about five hours Wednesday before being dismissed for the Thanksgiving weekend to return at 8 a.m. Monday to restart talks.
The jury announced about 2 p.m. Monday that it had reached a verdict on the first murder charge against Beavers, which is to “purposely cause the death of another.” The jury said it was deadlocked on the other murder charge, which is to “cause the death of another as the result of committing a felony.” In this case, the felony would be felonious assault.
Judge Scot Stevenson urged the jurors to continue their deliberations and to try to achieve an unanimous verdict. They met for just over two hours more and then reached a verdict.
Jeff Laybourne, one of Beavers’ two attorneys, said the jury members obviously struggled with their decision.
“They acquitted her of count one,” he said. “We feel that they respectfully lost their way on counts two and three. There was mountains of reasonable doubt.”
The jurors, in fact, asked at one point for an explanation of what “beyond a reasonable doubt” means, rereading a slide written by defense attorneys.
Family members and friends of both Beavers and Parker, who lived across the street from each other, were cordial to each other as they sat in on the trial and the verdict. Both sides expressed sorrow for the fate that befell this young couple.
“I’m glad justice manifested today,” said Brian Parker, Tevael’s uncle. “My nephew can rest in peace.”
“I pray for her and her family,” said Terrence Parker, another uncle of Tevael.
Joi Mills, Beavers’ aunt, said she is disappointed because she is convinced of her niece’s innocence.
“I didn’t have a doubt in my mind,” she said. “There was no evidence.”
Walter Benson, Beavers’ other attorney, said he thinks the lack of evidence will likely help her with the appeal that can be filed after her sentencing. Beavers’ DNA wasn’t found on the gun that killed Parker and she had no gunshot residue on her hands or clothes or blood spatter on her clothes.
“We are confident the insufficient evidence will give her an excellent chance on appeal,” Benson said.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705, swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj .