AKRON, Ohio — Luther Easter, the 34-year-old Akron man found guilty last month in connection with a 2022 murder, has been sentenced to life in prison.
According to a release from Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich, Easter was sentenced on Tuesday by Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Tammy O'Brien.
Easter will be eligible for parole after serving 28 years of his prison sentence.
“I am pleased to know the community is safer with Mr. Easter behind bars for a significant amount of time. Today’s sentencing is one small step in getting justice for the Howard family,” said Kolkovich in a statement.
On March 14, 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 first degree
- Tampering with evidence – a felony of the third degree
On Sept. 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.