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UT student's confessed killer indicted on murder charge
Posted: 07.27.2010 at 1:54 PM
Amulya Raghuveer

Amulya is the Director of Digital Content and Community Relations at WNWO.

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Lawrence Fitzgerald James, 24, is seen in Toledo Municipal Court on Monday, July 26, 2010.
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TOLEDO, OHIO -- A Toledo man accused of fatally stabbing a University of Toledo student has been indicted by a Lucas County grand jury.

Lawrence Fitzgerald James, 24, was in Toledo Municipal Court Tuesday morning, where his lawyer asked for a continuation of his pre-trial for murder charges.  Just hours later, James was formally charged with one count of murder in the death of Casey Bucher, 22.

Bucher had just left Maxwell's Brew, at Bancroft and Westwood, around 8:00 p.m. on July 18 when James approached asking for a cigarette and 35-cents in change.  James then stabbed Bucher in the chest and fled the scene.  Bucher was able to call 9-1-1 from his cell phone.  He was transported to an area hospital where he died a short time later.

James was located by police a few hours later at his home, just behind the restaurant.  He confessed to stabbing Bucher after asking for change and a cigarette.  If convicted of the crime, James faces up to life in prison.   He will not face the death penalty because there is no evidence suggesting a robbery took place along with the murder.

In 2008, James was sentenced to two years in prison for the stabbing of a Toledo gas station clerk.  The victim survived the attack. James was released from prison in June 2010.

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