State v. Morales ( 2022 )

[Cite as State v. Morales, 2022-Ohio-4772.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
LUCAS COUNTY
State of Ohio Court of Appeals No. L-22-1013
Appellee Trial Court No. CR0202001641
v.
Lorenzo Morales DECISION AND JUDGMENT
Appellant Decided: December 29, 2022
*****
Julia R. Bates, Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney, and
Evy M. Jarrett, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.
Lawrence A. Gold, for appellant.
*****
ZMUDA, J.
{¶ 1} Appellant, Lorenzo Morales, appeals the judgment of the Lucas County
Court of Common Pleas, sentencing him to an aggregate prison term of 18 years to life
following a jury trial. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
I. Background
{¶ 2} On the afternoon of August 16, 2019, police responded to the report of a
death at 238 Field in Toledo, Ohio. Appellant’s son, Bryan Morales-Rivero, went to the
home to check on E.S. at appellant’s request, after she failed to show up for work. Bryan
found E.S., bloody and laying over the threshold between the kitchen and dining room.
He called for help, prompting a passerby to phone 911. Police determined E.S. had been
murdered.
{¶ 3} After a lengthy investigation, the state charged appellant in connection with
the murder.
{¶ 4} On May 7, 2020, the state indicted appellant for murder in violation of R.C.
2903.02(A) and 2929.02 in Count 1; murder in violation of R.C. 2903.02(B) and 2929.02
in Count 2; and felonious assault in violation of R.C. 2903.11(A)(1) and (D) in Count 3,
with a firearm specification as to each count pursuant to R.C. 2941.145(A), (B), (C), and
(F).1
{¶ 5} The matter proceeded to a jury trial on November 15 through November 22,
2021. The only contested issue at trial was the identity of the assailant.
1
At trial, brief reference was made to the fact that appellant’s son, Bryan Morales-
Rivero, was charged with obstructing justice. Bryan did not testify at trial, and while
appellant attempted to implicate Bryan in the murder, the jury heard no testimony and
viewed no evidence related to Bryan’s role in the crime.
2.
{¶ 6} At trial, the state presented testimony of E.S.’s family, a former co-worker,
and a pastor, as well as testimony of the police, investigators, and forensic experts.
Appellant presented testimony of his brother, sister-in-law, and a co-worker at the
restaurant. Appellant also testified on his own behalf. The testimony and evidence
demonstrated the following facts.
{¶ 7} Appellant and E.S. had been together almost 14 years, and although they
never married, they owned businesses together, a restaurant and a store in Toledo’s South
End. As business partners, they purchased a life insurance policy, and appellant and E.S.
were each named as the other’s beneficiary. Appellant lived at the home at 238 Field
with E.S. and her three teen-aged children from a prior relationship. On the day of the
murder, E.S.’s children were vacationing with family in Florida. Appellant’s adult son,
Bryan, also stayed with the couple.
{¶ 8} E.S. typically began each day at the restaurant, reporting at 8:00 a.m. to
prepare for opening. The witnesses, including appellant, described E.S. as a hard worker.
After checking in, she ran errands to the bank and to the store for supplies, then returned
to help with the lunch rush. While she often relieved appellant at the store, appellant was
primarily responsible for that business and he limited his participation at the restaurant to
business decisions. The restaurant served alcohol and held dances, over E.S.’s
objections, because appellant believed those activities to be profitable for the restaurant.
When he did come to work with E.S., appellant followed E.S. or watched her as she
worked.
3.
{¶ 9} Every other week, appellant and E.S. were responsible for opening the store
they co-owned with appellant’s brother and sister-in-law. Because it was appellant’s and
E.S.’s week, appellant reported to the store around 8:05 a.m. on the morning of the
murder. Appellant’s brother and sister-in-law testified that it was not unusual to open the
store a few minutes late. Bryan was scheduled to work at the couple’s restaurant that
day, and he arrived to work just after 8:20 a.m.
{¶ 10} Appellant expected E.S. to relieve him at the store around 10:00 a.m., so he
and his sister-in-law could keep an appointment with the insurance agent. When E.S. did
not show, appellant began calling her phone, with no answer. He called his son at the
restaurant to find out where E.S. was, and at first, Bryan indicated he was too busy to
check on E.S. At the time, appellant had an app on his phone that linked to the
restaurant’s security camera, and he admitted looking at the footage to confirm Bryan’s
claim that he was too busy to help.
{¶ 11} By the afternoon, appellant had still not heard from E.S. At appellant’s
request, Bryan left the restaurant to go home and check on her. Upon arriving, Bryan
found E.S. and called his father, indicating E.S. was on the kitchen floor and there was
blood. According to appellant’s brother, appellant called him and told him E.S. was
dead, based on Bryan’s phone call, and then appellant locked up the store and headed
home. However, appellant’s account of how he learned of the death differed. He stated
he did not know E.S. was dead until he arrived at the scene.
4.
{¶ 12} By the time police arrived, appellant was on the scene and standing outside
the house, away from E.S.’s family members. Appellant appeared calm and emotionless
to police, and although appellant’s facial expressions suggested tears, his eyes remained
dry. Because appellant indicated that he did not speak English well enough to
communicate with police officers, they placed him in the back of a cruiser until an
interpreter arrived.
{¶ 13} As police directed appellant to sit in the cruiser, he expressed concern for
“why he was being separated [from other witnesses] and why he was being put into the
police car.” Officers noted that appellant did not express concern for E.S., and his
attempts at crying appeared to be faked emotion. Appellant’s demeanor at the scene was
recorded on body-cam video, which was displayed to the jury.
{¶ 14} The home showed no signs of a forced entry, and the inside showed no
signs of a struggle or fight. The home was generally neat, with items in their place, and
police noted it appeared the floor around the dining room table was freshly mopped based
on the position of the chairs, upside down on top of the table as done in a restaurant.
Police located E.S.’s purse on a couch near the front door. The purse contained over
$3,000.00 and her children’s passports and birth certificates, supporting the conclusion
that robbery was not the likely motive for murder.
{¶ 15} Police noted several stab wound to E.S.’s chest and head, accompanied by
less blood than would be expected from head and chest wounds. Initially, it appeared
E.S. had been stabbed to death, based on the visible stab wounds. E.S. had both shallow
5.
and deep stab wounds, along with fresh abrasions and contusions to her neck, face, knees,
and hands, and numerous swabs were collected from the body for DNA testing.
However, an autopsy revealed the cause of death as a single gunshot wound to the back
that penetrated near the heart, puncturing the aorta where it connected to the heart.
{¶ 16} After E.S. was shot, and her heart stopped pumping blood, E.S. was
stabbed 18 times in the head, neck, back, and chest. E.S. also had a fresh bruise on the
side of her face and scratches on her neck. Appellant’s DNA was recovered near these
injuries, and also from under E.S.’s fingernails. Both E.S.’s blood and appellant’s semen
was detected from vaginal and anal swabs taken from E.S. Police recovered the bullet
from E.S.’s chest, a second bullet from the bedroom floor, and a spent casing just outside
the bedroom, in the front room of the house. No gun or knife was ever recovered and
connected to the murder.
{¶ 17} Based on the scene, however, police determined the incident began in
appellant’s and E.S.’s bedroom and progressed to the kitchen prior to the time E.S. would
have gotten dressed and ready for work at 8:00 a.m. They also concluded that after the
gunshot to the back, the assailant stabbed E.S. from behind, then flipped her over and
continued stabbing her in the chest, neck, and head. Police reached this conclusion based
on the bullet found lodged in the bedroom, the location of the shell casing, and the
location of E.S. toward the rear of the house, lying on her back between the dining room
and kitchen near a blood smear that indicated her body was moved. E.S.’s cell phone
was still plugged in at her bedside, and she was dressed in the boxer shorts and t-shirt she
6.
wore as pajamas. Police also determined from the shell casing recovered that the bullet
was fired from a gun too large for the ammunition, and the gun possibly jammed as a
result, retaining the second shell casing.
{¶ 18} After interviewing E.S.’s family and co-workers, police believed
appellant’s motive was related to E.S.’s decision to leave him. On the Tuesday before the
murder, E.S. told her sister that appellant had grabbed her by the hair during an argument
the day before, and that she was done with appellant and going to leave him and let him
have all the property and businesses. E.S.’s sister supported E.S.’s decision to leave. She
felt appellant was too controlling of E.S. because he had to know where she was and what
she was doing all the time, and he caused E.S. to change the way she dressed and applied
makeup.
{¶ 19} On that same day, E.S. contacted her brother’s husband for help in leaving
appellant. Her brother-in-law agreed E.S. should come with the children and stay with
him and her brother in Kentucky. E.S. indicated that she just needed to return to the
home to get her children’s birth certificates and passports. E.S. then reached out to a
pastor she knew and asked for a ride to Kentucky. At trial, the pastor testified that he
could not drive E.S. that day, and E.S. indicated she would take the bus to Kentucky. Her
children were already with her brother.
{¶ 20} Appellant testified that he learned of E.S.’s plan to leave him, but claimed
E.S. changed her mind after they talked. E.S. did exchange Facebook messages with her
brother-in-law in Kentucky on Wednesday, and told him she would not be coming, after
7.
all. Her message, however, did not indicate all was well with appellant. Instead, she
referenced problems that she did not know how to solve, and stated she had to face what
comes and not look for an easy way out.
{¶ 21} On Thursday, the restaurant closed early and E.S. and appellant attended a
tasting event, organized by E.S., to try out new dishes for the menu. E.S.’s family noted
that E.S. and appellant looked “serious” and it appeared they were having a fight.
Appellant made a comment to E.S.’s sister that “there were people that did not love
them,” a comment that was puzzling because E.S. was a beloved member of the
community and had no enemies.
{¶ 22} On Friday, E.S.’s sister was asked by their mother to check on E.S. because
E.S. was not answering her phone. After several attempts to reach E.S. by phone, the
sister called appellant, who bluntly told her that E.S. was dead. E.S.’s sister and other
family went to the home to find out what happened, and they confronted appellant, asking
what he had done to E.S. Appellant kept himself apart from the family after the murder,
although he did permit E.S.’s family to hold novena prayers in the house after her death.
{¶ 23} Shortly after the funeral, appellant contacted his insurance agent and
inquired about collecting the $100,000.00 life insurance policy for E.S. He listed the
Field Street address as his home address, and witnesses indicated he appeared to continue
living at the home for months after the murder, despite claiming an unknown assailant
invaded the home to kill E.S. Because the insurance agent needed a death certificate to
8.
process the claim, appellant eventually hired an attorney to assist him in obtaining the
death certificate. The claim was not paid to appellant prior to his arrest for the murder.
{¶ 24} A month after the murder, appellant asked for a return of the cash taken
from the scene in E.S.’s purse. He collected the money from the police property room
and asked no questions of the detective regarding the murder investigation at that time, or
in the months following. After several months, police indicated appellant was a person of
interest. Appellant then gave an interview to a local television station from his restaurant,
announcing he was looking for information to help catch the murderer. After the
interview, he contacted police again, not to inquire about the investigation, but to get a
vehicle key fob that had been taken from the scene.
{¶ 25} By April 2020, police no longer had contact with appellant and appellant
had moved from the house on Field. According to appellant’s brother, appellant had
moved in with him soon after the murder and appellant was overcome with grief. No
other witness testified regarding such grief, and appellant acknowledged that he remained
in the home for some time after the murder. Appellant testified that his lack of outward
signs of grief was cultural, but other witnesses disputed this claim, indicating that others
in the family cried and grieved publicly.
{¶ 26} In sum, the state presented evidence of appellant’s controlling relationship
and the recent incident of physical violence – the hair grabbing – during an argument on
the Monday preceding the murder. E.S.’s sister testified that this incident led to E.S.’s
attempt to flee to Kentucky and abandon the businesses she had worked so hard to
9.
establish. Additionally, the state presented testimony of a former cook, who witnessed an
incident months prior to the murder in which appellant threatened to kill E.S. for wasting
money after chastising her for discarding some rice. The threat shocked E.S., the cook,
and appellant, based on the cook’s testimony. Appellant denied he ever threatened or
harmed E.S.
{¶ 27} The state also presented evidence of appellant’s motive, arguing he was full
of rage and did not want E.S. to leave him. He also quickly sought to collect the life
insurance proceeds, and only showed concern for his own well-being and his property,
including the cash from E.S.’s purse and a vehicle.
{¶ 28} In addition to motive, the state presented evidence establishing appellant
was the only likely assailant. The attack began in the couple’s bedroom before E.S. had
gotten ready for work. A bullet was recovered from the bedroom, a shell casing from the
area just outside the bedroom, and E.S. was stabbed, repeatedly, toward the rear of the
home, just inside the kitchen. Because E.S. did not report to work until 8:00 a.m., and
appellant admittedly left the home around that same time, the state introduced evidence
placing appellant at the scene at the likely time of the attack.
{¶ 29} As evidence of appellant’s culpability, the police who responded to the
scene commented on appellant’s odd demeanor, notable for his unusual lack of emotion
or concern for E.S., his intimate partner of 14 years.
{¶ 30} In his own defense, appellant’s evidence established he was at the store
from just after 8:00 a.m. until he closed up the store in the early afternoon. He also
10.
presented testimony from a current cook, who testified that Bryan was also a cook and
scheduled to arrive at the restaurant at 8:00 a.m. She further testified that the other cook,
who witnessed appellant threaten to kill E.S. several months prior to E.S.’s death, had not
worked at the restaurant in the months before the murder. As to appellant’s motive, he
claimed that E.S. handled the restaurant finances and routinely carried large amounts of
money, and he acknowledged E.S.’s attempt to flee to Kentucky to live with her brother
and his husband, but claimed E.S. was trying to escape her family, and not him.
{¶ 31} On the morning of the murder, appellant claimed he and E.S. slept in and
had consensual sex, and he left the home around 7:40 a.m., leaving E.S. to continue
sleeping in. Appellant testified that his son, Bryan, was still at the house when appellant
left for work. When E.S. did not arrive at the store by 10:00 a.m., he started calling and
sending text messages, admitting he could have used his app to view the restaurant
surveillance cameras to see if she was there, but called Bryan, instead.
{¶ 32} The defense presented a theory of either a random assailant or Bryan as the
culprit. In response to the appellant’s theories, the state pointed to evidence
demonstrating E.S. was trying to leave appellant and that only appellant had a reason to
kill her. The state also pointed to evidence demonstrating only appellant’s DNA was
found on E.S., including DNA in areas of injury like the swollen face and the scratched
neck. The state noted the progression of the attack from inside the couple’s bedroom to
the kitchen doorway, and the personal nature of the attack. Significantly, after E.S. had
been shot, the attacker stabbed E.S. 18 times, with wounds inflicted first to E.S.’s back,
11.
and then after E.S. was flipped over, to her chest and head. Finally, the attacker left
behind a significant sum of cash in E.S.’s purse, in clear sight near the front door.
{¶ 33} The jury returned a guilty verdict as to all counts and the attached
specifications. The trial court continued the matter for sentencing. On December 13,
2021, the trial court noted appellant was found guilty of all three counts in the indictment,
and after finding Counts 2 and 3 with their attached specifications were allied offenses
and subject to merger pursuant to R.C. 2941.25, the trial court proceeded to sentencing as
to Count 1 at the state’s election. The trial court imposed a prison term of 15 years to life
as to murder in violation of R.C. 2903.02(A) and 2929.02, an unclassified felony, and
imposed a mandatory, consecutive term of three years for the attached firearm
specification, pursuant to R.C. 2941.145.
{¶ 34} Appellant filed a timely appeal of this judgment.
II. Assignments of Error
{¶ 35} In challenging the judgment, appellant asserts the following as error in his
appeal:
FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR: THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN
DENYING APPELLANT’S CRIM.R. 29 MOTION.
SECOND ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR: THE JURY’S VERDICT WAS
AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT
TRIAL.
12.
{¶ 36} While each assignment of error addresses a different issue, for ease
of discussion, we address the assignments of error together.
III. Analysis
{¶ 37} At sentencing, the state elected to proceed to sentencing on Count one:
murder in violation of R.C. 2903.02(A) and 2929.02, with a firearm specification
pursuant to R.C. 2941.145(A), (B), (C), and (F). Appellant challenges both the
sufficiency and the weight of the evidence to support the jury’s verdict as to murder and
the attendant firearm specification.
{¶ 38} To find appellant guilty of murder with a firearm specification, the jury had
to find that appellant purposely caused the death of E.S., and that he had a firearm while
committing the offense or used a firearm in the committing the offense. R.C.
2903.02(A); R.C. 2945.145(A). In this case, the state presented evidence that was legally
sufficient and persuasive as to the required elements.
{¶ 39} “The legal concepts of sufficiency of the evidence and weight of the
evidence are both quantitatively and qualitatively different.” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio
St.3d 380, 386, 678 N.E.2d 541 (1997). Sufficiency pertains to the “legal standard which
is applied to determine whether the case may go to the jury or whether the evidence is
legally sufficient to support the jury verdict as a matter of law.” Id., quoting Black’s Law
Dictionary 1433 (6 Ed.1990); Crim.R. 29(A).
{¶ 40} In reviewing the evidence for sufficiency, we construe the evidence most
favorably for the state and determine whether “any rational trier of fact could have found
13.
the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Walker,
2021-Ohio-3860, 180 N.E.3d 60, ¶ 63 (6th Dist.), quoting State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d
89, 113, 684 N.E.2d 668 (1997). Sufficiency is a test of adequacy, or whether the
evidence is adequate to sustain the verdict as a matter of law. Thompkins at 386
{¶ 41} In contrast, the weight of the evidence pertains to “‘the inclination of the
greater amount of credible evidence, offered in a trial, to support one side of the issue
rather than the other.’” (Emphasis sic.) Id. at 387, quoting Black’s at 1594. If we find
the evidence sufficient, we “may nevertheless conclude that the judgment is against the
weight of the evidence.” (Citation omitted) Id. at 387.
{¶ 42} To reverse based on the weight of the evidence, we must find, sitting as a
“thirteenth juror,” that the jury lost its way in resolving conflicts in the testimony.
(Citation omitted) Id. The party having the burden of proof is entitled to their verdict if
the greater amount of credible evidence weighs in their favor on the issues. “Weight is
not a question of mathematics, but depends on its effect in inducing belief.’” (Emphasis
sic.) Id., quoting Black’s at 1594.
{¶ 43} Appellant first argues that the trial court erred in denying his Crim.R. 29
motion for acquittal based on sufficiency of the evidence on all essential elements of the
offense of murder with a firearm specification. Specifically, appellant argues that there
was reasonable doubt because the state’s case relied on only circumstantial evidence to
prove he was the murderer, leading to the jury impermissibly stacking inferences. The
14.
state presented no eye-witnesses, no murder weapon, and found no blood from E.S. on
appellant or in his car or any incriminating evidence on appellant’s cell phone.
{¶ 44} In viewing the evidence, “[c]ircumstantial evidence and direct evidence
inherently possess the same probative value.” State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 272, 574
N.E.2d 492(1991), superseded by constitutional amendment on other grounds as stated in
State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89, 102, 684 N.E.2d 668 (1997), fn. 4 (additional citation
omitted.). Thus, regardless of whether the evidence is circumstantial or direct, “an
appellate court’s function when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a
criminal conviction is to examine the evidence admitted at trial to determine whether
such evidence, if believed, would convince the average mind of the defendant’s guilt
beyond a reasonable doubt.” (Citation omitted) Id. Appellant acknowledges the equal
weight of circumstantial and direct evidence, but argues that with no direct evidence, the
jury based its verdict on “unsupported inferences stacked upon inferences.”
{¶ 45} Appellant misconstrues “inference,” and the law related to stacking an
inference upon another inference. “An inference has been defined as ‘a conclusion
which, by means of data founded upon common experience, natural reason draws from
facts which are proven.’” State v. Guidugli, 157 Ohio App.3d 383, 2004-Ohio-2871, 811
N.E.2d 567, ¶ 17 (1st Dist.), quoting State v. Nevius, 147 Ohio St. 263, 71 N.E.2d 258(1947). There must be proven facts to support an inference, and “a given state of facts
may give rise to two or more inferences, and in such case one inference is not built upon
another but each is drawn separately from the same facts.” McDougall v. Glenn Cartage
15.
Co., 169 Ohio St. 522, 160 N.E.2d 266 (1959), paragraph two of the syllabus. In
contrast, an inference based solely on another inference, without additional supporting
facts, “is an inference on an inference and may not be indulged by a jury.” Hurt v.
Charles J. Rogers Transp. Co., 164 Ohio St. 329, 130 N.E.2d 820 (1955), paragraph one
of the syllabus.
{¶ 46} As previously noted, the only disputed element at trial was the identity of
the murderer. In arguing the jury impermissibly stacked inferences to conclude that he
was the murderer, appellant points to no inference that lacked supporting evidence or
testimony. Instead, appellant argues that the circumstantial evidence was not direct
evidence, or did not directly prove identity, and the circumstantial evidence also did not
eliminate other possible suspects like his son, Bryan. In response, the state references
authority that rejects the notion that evidence must be “irreconcilable with any reasonable
theory of innocence to support a conviction.” See Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d at 259, 574
N.E.2d 492 at paragraph one of the syllabus. The state’s position is the correct one.
{¶ 47} In this case, appellant does not argue that the state failed to present
evidence of identity. He only argues that the state’s evidence, implicating him, only
implicated him by inference because it was merely circumstantial evidence that might
also have implicated others. In essence, appellant argues the state’s evidence was
insufficient because there might have been better, direct evidence had such evidence been
discovered by police. This argument does not address the sufficiency standard, however,
requiring acquittal where the state’s evidence, construed in its favor, would not support a
16.
“rational trier of fact” in finding “the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a
reasonable doubt.” Walker, 2021-Ohio-3860, 180 N.E.3d 60 at ¶ 63, quoting Smith, 80
Ohio St.3d at 113, 684 N.E.2d 668.
{¶ 48} Here, the state produced adequate evidence to support the verdict.
Furthermore, while the bulk of the state’s case consisted of circumstantial evidence, “[i]n
some instances certain facts can only be established by circumstantial evidence.” Jenks,
61 Ohio St.3d at 272, 574 N.EE.2d 482. There is no requirement “that circumstantial
evidence must be irreconcilable with any reasonable theory of an accused's innocence in
order to support a finding of guilt.” Id. Thus, the prosecution may rely on circumstantial
evidence “to prove an element of the offense charged.” Id. Because the state presented
evidence as to identity, appellant’s challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, based
solely on the character of the evidence, lacks merit.
{¶ 49} Appellant next argues that the verdict was against the manifest weight of
the evidence. Unlike the adequacy consideration undertaken within a sufficiency inquiry,
a challenge to the manifest weight addresses whether the state carried its burden of
persuasion. Eastley v. Volkman, 132 Ohio St.3d 328, 2012-Ohio-2179, 972 N.E.2d 517,
¶ 19 (“‘manifest weight of the evidence’ refers to a greater amount of credible evidence
and relates to persuasion”).
{¶ 50} Appellant argues the manifest weight of the evidence does not support
conviction because the jury “did not fully consider all the evidence” in finding him guilty
of the charges, choosing to believe testimony from E.S.’s sister that E.S. planned to leave
17.
appellant, while disregarding E.S.’s later statements to appellant – as relayed by appellant
– and E.S.’s messages to her brother-in-law canceling her trip to Kentucky, which
appellant claims demonstrated that he and E.S. had reconciled. Appellant further argued
that the jury disregarded his testimony that his lack of emotion was cultural and not
indicative of guilt, and that the jury failed to “give proper weight to the fact that
[appellant] did not flee to Mexico, that no knife or firearm was ever recovered, that no
bloody clothing was found in appellant’s possession and that no bloody footprints were
found at the crime scene” or that appellant’s phone and vehicle contained no
incriminating evidence. Finally, appellant argues that the jury failed to credit appellant’s
explanation for his DNA all over E.S.’s body, that “they made love on the morning of
August 16th” and failed to consider his son Bryan as a suspect based on the fact Bryan
also lived at the home and arrived at work much later than appellant on the morning E.S.
was found dead.
{¶ 51} Each of appellant’s arguments articulate disagreement with the jury’s
resolution of the state’s evidence with his own, contrary testimony. However, in
weighing the evidence, we “must always be mindful of the presumption in favor of the
finder of fact.” Eastley at ¶ 21. “If the evidence is susceptible of more than one
construction, the reviewing court is bound to give it that interpretation which is consistent
with the verdict and judgment, most favorable to sustaining the verdict and judgment.”
Id., quoting Seasons Coal Co., Inc. v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d 77, 80, 461 N.E.2d 1273(1984), fn.3 (additional citation omitted.).
18.
{¶ 52} In this case, the state presented evidence demonstrating appellant was
controlling and abusive toward E.S., and E.S. was unhappy in her relationship with
appellant. According to the testimony, E.S. made plans to leave appellant and take her
children to Kentucky to stay with her brother and his husband. This was supported by
testimony of E.S.’s sister, her brother-in-law, and her former pastor, who testified that
E.S. contacted him just before the murder and asked for a ride to Kentucky. Appellant’s
DNA was the only foreign DNA identified on E.S.s body, he admitted to being with her
before her death, and appellant sought to collect on E.S.’s life insurance policy soon after
the funeral. E.S.’s family members also testified that appellant showed no emotion after
E.S.’s death or at her funeral.
{¶ 53} As to appellant’s claim that Bryan committed the murder, the state
presented evidence demonstrating Bryan had no apparent motive. Bryan had only a
working relationship with E.S. and no demonstrated conflict with her, and the
investigation indicated the attack began in appellant’s bedroom and Bryan’s DNA was
not found on E.S.’s body.
{¶ 54} Based on our thorough review of the record, we find nothing to support
appellant’s contention that the jury lost its way in finding him guilty of murder with a gun
specification. While the evidence was mostly circumstantial, the state nevertheless met
its burden of persuasion in demonstrating that appellant was responsible for killing E.S.
by firing a bullet in her back and then stabbing her 18 times after she tried to leave him.
“[A]ll that is required of the jury is that it weigh all of the evidence, direct and
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circumstantial, against the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Nothing more
should be required of the factfinder.” (Citation omitted) Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d at 272, 574
N.E.2d 492.
{¶ 55} In this case, appellant failed to demonstrate that the jury lost its way in
choosing “between competing constructions of the evidence.” Jenks at 273. The law did
not require the state’s evidence to eliminate “any reasonable theory of innocence in order
to support a conviction.” (Citation omitted) Id. Accordingly, appellant’s challenge to the
weight of the evidence fails.
{¶ 56} We therefore find appellant’s first and second assignments of error not
well-taken.
IV. Conclusion
{¶ 57} Having found substantial justice has been done, we affirm the judgment of
the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas. Appellant shall pay the costs of this appeal
pursuant to App.R. 24.
Judgment affirmed.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.
20.
State of Ohio v.
Lorenzo Morales
C.A. No. L-22-1013
Mark L. Pietrykowski, J. ____________________________
JUDGE
Thomas J. Osowik, J.
____________________________
Gene A. Zmuda, J. JUDGE
CONCUR.
____________________________
JUDGE
This decision is subject to further editing by the Supreme Court of
Ohio’s Reporter of Decisions. Parties interested in viewing the final reported
version are advised to visit the Ohio Supreme Court’s web site at:
http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ROD/docs/.
21.