Ferrara sentenced to life for 40-year-old murder of Canfield fam - WFMJ.com News weather sports for Youngstown-Warren Ohio

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Ferrara sentenced to life for 40-year-old murder of Canfield family

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The man convicted in a 1970's triple murder is sentenced. James Ferrara learned Friday he'll spend the rest of his life locked up for the brutal murder of a Canfield family.

Ben Marsh, a General Motors security guard, and His wife Marilyn, were found shot and their 4-year-old daughter Heather, was discovered beaten to death in their Canfield Township home in 1974. On Thursday, a jury convicted Ferrara after only four hours of deliberations.

After almost 40 years, the Marsh's surviving relatives found themselves holding back tears in the courtroom as Ferrara told Judge Scott Krichbaum, he "didn't do it".

"You got the wrong guy, I didn't do that, there wasn't enough evidence to prove that I did it, couldn't have been, I didn't do it," Ferrara told the judge. 

Ferrara didn't take the stand throughout his trial. Evidence including three fingerprints left behind at the scene matched that of Ferrara. Prosecutors considered the fingerprints are stronger than DNA evidence. 

Judge Krichbaum called Ferrara's actions inhumane, before sentencing him to three life sentences for each murder.

"They're such an extent, they're, they're demonic," Krichbaum says. 

Relatives say it will be difficult to find closure. 

"Ben and Marilyn and Heather have been missed," Karen Marsh says. "The judge talked about closure and there isn't really any closure. Everyone of us will take this to our own graves."

Ferrara is already serving a sentence for a double murders in 1983. The judge says Ferrara's life sentences will ensure he'll spend the rest of his life in prison.

 

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