I just read this story on AOL news. Just when I think I can't get any more disgusted with the human race, I read a story like this. I hope this jerk has to look at pictures of unkemp lawns for the rest of his pathetic life. I hope Hell for him is one big, filthy yard. My prayers go out to this young child and his family.

Man Kills Teen for Walking on Lawn, Police Say
By LISA CORNWELL, AP

BATAVIA, Ohio (March 20) - A man who neighbors say was devoted to his meticulously kept lawn was charged with murder in the shooting of a 15-year-old boy who apparently walked across his yard.




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Charles Martin called 911 on Sunday afternoon, saying calmly: "I just killed a kid."

Police, who released the call's contents, said Martin also told the dispatcher: "I've been harassed by him and his parents for five years. Today just blew it up."

Larry Mugrage, whose family lived next door, was shot in the chest with a shotgun. The high school freshman was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Martin, 66, allegedly told police he had several times had problems with neighbors walking on his lawn. He remained jailed without bond Monday. His jailers said no attorney was listed for him.

Neighbors said Martin lived alone quietly, often sitting in front of his one-story home with its neat lawn, well-trimmed shrubbery and flag pole with U.S. and Navy flags flying.

Joanne Ritchie, 46, said Mugrage was known as "a good kid," but she always also considered Martin to be friendly.

Union Township is near Batavia, about 20 miles east of Cincinnati.

Associated Press Writer Dan Sewell in Cincinnati contributed to this report.


03-20-06 20:19 EST


Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

dang, I don't think I will cut through my neighbors yard any more.

I doubt it was the walking on the lawn that triggered this. I bet his neighbors are a-holes.

I doubt it was the walking on the lawn that triggered this. I bet his neighbors are a-holes.

Well I guess that makes it okay then.:rolleyes:

What is it with men and their lawns?? Gawd....or just men in general. They're so damn competitive.

And for God's Sake....it's not like the kid raped his daughter.

Man, that dude needs some serious anger management classes, while he spends the rest of his life in prison.

that's crazy. what is this, the 17 hundreds?

OMG. ohno:

Why didn't the guy just put up a fence if he didn't want people walking on his lawn? :rolleyes:

Why didn't the guy just put up a fence if he didn't want people walking on his lawn? :rolleyes:
then people couldn't see it.

sad:(

then people couldn't see it.
They could as long as it wasn't a privacy fence.

Charles Martin, youre pathetic. :nod:

Charles Martin, youre pathetic. :nod:
Uh oh....you better watch it....he may come after you now. ;)

Uh oh....you better watch it....he may come after you now. ;)


:eek: :lol:

What is it with men and their lawns?? Gawd....or just men in general. They're so damn competitive.

And for God's Sake....it's not like the kid raped his daughter.


Damn, I know a guy like this. Old guy, always grumpy, and meticulous in his lawnkeeping. I remember last summer, when the street department put in new curbs when they were redoing the streets, he ripped up his entire lawn(at least the section by the street) and retilled and replanted the grass, keeping a fence around it until it grew in.

But he doesn't stop there. Apparently he doesn't understand that the sidewalks are for public use.
I was walking my daughter to school one day after it had snowed, and I was pulling her on a sled so she wouldn't have to walk all the way to school(we have these big hills here which are just murder to get up). Well, there was still snow on the sidewalk in front of this guy's house, and since I didn't want to pull my daughter in the street, I started walking on the sidewalk. Then I hear this guy(who is snowblowing the sidewalk on the side of his house) say something like "hey" although it wasn't hey, it was more like a loud grunt.
So I stop and look back at him, waiting for him to say something but he doesn't and just keeps snowblowing, so I turn around and walk on down the sidewalk. So then he says out loud - and this is with my 5 year old daughter with me - "Well then just keep on walking, you a**hole!"
Well, that surprised me so I stopped and turned around again, only to see the old jacka..., I mean, old guy just snowblowing along with a scowl on his face.
I stood there and stared at him flabbergasted for a moment, but not wanting to confront him with my daughter there I walked on. On my way back from dropping off my daughter, I purposely went by his house, with sled in tow, but he was nowhere in sight. I guess I am lucky he didn't come out and shoot me. Maybe he is that same guy that this thread is about, or maybe he's that guy's brother. They do seem to be cut from the same cloth. Both grumpy old men, and very anal about their lawns, and apparently, public sidewalk.

Hm, personally I HATE suburban lawns...I think they're hideous.