4 charged in killing of $250,000 lottery winner in Ohio

Posted: 5/20/2008 11:08:59 PM

Burglars returned again and again to the home of a $250,000 Ohio Lottery winner who had two Jaguars, a Rolex watch and lots of cash. The final intrusion, apparently by different criminals, left the 78-year-old retired stockbroker dead of a gunshot wound.

Police aren't saying if Lee Kost's death last Thursday was related to the Mega Millions prize that he won on Sept. 28. But it was clear burglars focused on his home, hitting the house sometime early in the year, again about March 11 and on April 27.

Each time cash was taken, at least $2,800 in all, plus a Rolex, four diamond rings, a sapphire ring, a credit card and a large soft-drink bottle filled with about $500 in change. The first two times, entry was gained through an unlocked door and the third time someone apparently reached through the mail slot and unlocked the door.

Police haven't disclosed what was taken in last week's attack, but said the victim previously met at least one of his attackers. Four people have been charged with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery and $2 million bond was set for each at court appearances on Monday.

The defendants, Terrence J. Maya, 26, of New Orleans, and Antonio C. Taylor, Porche J. Sweet and Megan C. Harper, all 18-year-olds who shared a Canton apartment, got court-appointed attorneys.

Sweet's attorney, Jeffrey Jakmides, said he looked into evidence against his client on Tuesday and said police weren't disclosing much. She will fight the charges, he said.

Kost, who lived alone with two Siamese cats, was found dead in his home Friday after police 35 miles away in Brecksville stopped the four defendants traveling along Interstate 77 in one of his two Jaguars. The car was speeding and moving erratically, police said.

Canton Prosecutor Frank Forchione said the victim had dinner with Sweet on the evening that he was killed and she contacted the others by text message while at the Kost home. Forchione declined Tuesday to specify how Kost and Sweet knew each other.

With two Jaguars and active in the community, the victim's wealth may have attracted unwanted attention, Forchione said. He said the suspects in Kost's death apparently were a different group than the earlier burglars.

Jakmides said he was unaware of any meeting between Kost and his client, if they knew each other or if she might have a financial motive.

The judge who appointed the attorneys to represent the four said there was a potential conflict of interest among them. Jakmides said he understood that meant the defendants might have provided police with information implicating co-defendants.

The defendants are due in court for a preliminary hearing Tuesday. Anthony Koukoutas, an attorney representing Maya, said he couldn't comment except to say his client appeared shocked over the matter.

Messages seeking comment were left for the other defense attorneys.

Sweet was involved in Cleveland on juvenile court charges that she was unruly in 2006 but the case was dismissed, according to court spokeswoman Patricia Oakar. An unruly charge typically involves behavior, like truancy, that isn't a crime for adults.

Sweet, who was placed in a foster home in 2006, was released last year after she turned 18, according to Oakar.

Source: AP