On March 22, 2023, 36-year-old Melvin Harvey Ricardo Stevenson was found unresponsive in a driveway on Rowland Avenue NE in Canton, Ohio, with gunshot wounds to his head and body. He was transported to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries two days later.
Following the incident, Canton police arrested 29-year-old Errol G. Frank III and his wife, 29-year-old Tricia Stevenson-Frank.
Errol Frank was initially charged with attempted murder, while Tricia Stevenson-Frank faced charges of obstructing justice. These charges were later amended after Stevenson's death.
In July 2023, Errol Frank stood trial in Stark County Common Pleas Court. The prosecution argued that Frank had sought out Stevenson, who was his wife's ex-husband, and fatally shot him. Frank's defense claimed he acted in self-defense, stating that Stevenson had lunged at him during a confrontation. After approximately two hours of deliberation, the jury found Frank guilty of murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence, all accompanied by firearm specifications.
On July 31, 2023, Judge Frank Forchione sentenced Errol Frank to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years. During the sentencing, Stevenson's mother expressed forgiveness toward Frank, urging him to find peace and purpose during his incarceration. Frank apologized to Stevenson's family, acknowledging the pain he had caused and expressing regret for his actions.
