AKRON -- The jury now has all the evidence in the trial of Brogan Rafferty, the teenager accused of being one of the Craigslist killers.
On Wednesday, the defense rested its case, trying to show Rafferty's actions were out of fear for his own life.
Jurors will have to decide for themselves to what extent and why Brogan Rafferty, now 17, assisted accused triggerman Richard Beasley in the murder of three people, and the attempted murder of another -- all after they responded to phony Craigslist job ads.
Jurors heard from a defense forensic psychiatrist to show the relationship between Beasley and Rafferty.
Rafferty was introduced to Beasley through his father as a young boy.
"Brogan developed an extremely close relationship, not knowing, what was going to happen, by the way. But an extremely close relationship with Beasley, and saw him as more than just a father figure. He saw him as kind of a hero figure," said Dr. James Eisenberg.
Eisenberg argued that Rafferty was forever changed after seeing the first of the murders carried out.
"From the perspective of a 16-year-old boy, I think that was enough to convince him that this guy is going to act out, he just saw [Beasley] act out and kill someone," Eisenberg said.
"[Rafferty] was behaving, in a way, without a safety net. Didn't know what to do. Thought about it, and was just too afraid of the consequences," he said.
A rebuttal prosecution witness says he was motivated by approval and friendship -- and the stolen goods Rafferty got out of the deal.
"If Brogan truly had been under the belief that he was in immediate danger, he would have called the authorities or told his parents in an effort to get help. But he didn't," said Dr. Stephen Noffsinger, also a forensic psychiatrist.
"Brogan had ample time to inform the last three victims of Mr. Beasley's intentions. They ate together, they spent time together, they rode in the same vehicles together at times. But he didn't inform the victims of what was about to happen," said Noffsinger.
He also mentioned that Rafferty had chances to get away from Beasley, could have physically overpowered him, or used a cell phone he carried to call for help. Instead, he sought out time with Beasley.
An Ohio BCI computer forensics search shows Rafferty may have researched organized crime rings and kills in the US and abroad.
What does it prove? That's up to the jury to decide between two theories on Rafferty's role in the Craigslist scheme.
Jurors will hear closing arguments from prosecutors and the defense Thursday morning, as well as jury instructions. It's likely they start deliberating in the afternoon.
WKYC-TV