On Thursday, Luther Easter, 34, was found guilty in connection to the 2022 murder of Dartanian Howard, 34, in Akron, according to a news release from the Summit County Prosecutor's Office.
On Sept. 18, 2022, Akron Police responded to Flower Court and North Howard Street for a report of a body lying in the street, authorities said.
Upon arrival, police found Howard on the ground, suffering several gunshot wounds, the release states.
DNA from the scene matched that of Laurelin Flanagan, 32, who was later discovered to have lured the man to an area for Easter to then kill him, authorities said.
Easter was charged and found guilty by a jury of the following:
- 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
Flanagan pleaded guilty in September of 2023 to a first-degree felony charge of voluntary manslaughter with a gun specification. and a third-degree felony charge of tampering with evidence. Flanagan was sentenced to 13 to 18 years in prison.
Easter will be sentenced on April 2.
