WATERVILLE, OHIO -- The University of Toledo student killed Sunday evening was laid to rest Friday afternoon as more fresh flowers were placed at a makeshift memorial near the intersection where he was assaulted.
Casey Bucher, 22, a graduate of Anthony Wayne High School, was stabbed to death on Westwood near Bancroft, just outside Maxwell's Brew and the UT campus.
On Friday, only hours before laying her son to rest, Lisa Bucher recalled the moments when police called her to break terrible news. "He asked me for a physical description because the person did not have any identity on them at the time. I said my son was 5'9", blond hair, blue eyes and handsome. I thought it was a joke because my son had just texted me," said Bucher.
It was no joke. After being stabbed once in the chest by Lawrence James, Casey, who had just left Maxwell's, managed to call 9-1-1 himself. He was taken to an area hospital where he died a short time later. "The doctor came out and took me in the room and sat down and said I'm sorry we did everything we could. To say the least, I was not prepared for that," said Casey's mother.
Lisa Bucher was also not prepared to turn on the news days later and see Lawrence James' mother pleading her son's case to the public. "I'm speaking out because she spoke out," said Bucher in regards to Dy'Ann Newble's interview with local media. "He son wasn't that bad...My son is dead. I'll never hug my son again. That's all."
When asked what kind of justice she would like to see James receive, Lisa Bucher says she would like her son's killer to get the death penalty.
James, who has confessed to fatally stabbing Bucher, is scheduled to be in court for a pre-trial hearing on Monday, July 26. Lisa Bucher says she plans to be in court. James is currently being held in the Lucas County Jail on $500,000 bond.
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