Woman to face civil suit in death of martial arts teacher
By KATHY THOMPSON
Staff Writer
COLUMBUS - A federal court judge ruled that a former Zanesville woman will have to go to trial in February and convince a jury she had no part in the death of an area martial arts teacher.
Stacey Coffey, of Ocala, Fla., has been fighting a court battle for the past five years in the Southern District Ohio Eastern Division after being sued by D.M. Ford’s family, who claim she killed Ford. Ford taught martial arts in Zanesville and Coshocton and was the offensive coordinator for the former Muskingum Valley Cobras semipro football team.
Coffey has never been charged with Ford’s murder because Muskingum County Sheriff’s Detective Steve Welker said there was never enough probable cause.
Coffey petitioned the court to have the case dismissed but Judge Gregory L. Frost ruled that even though Coffey cannot be sued for violating Ford’s rights nor can she be sued on the grounds Ford’s murder was racially motivated, she can be sued for his death.
“The judge has ruled that a jury is going to have to make the decision whether or not Miss Coffey was involved in D. M.'s murder,” John Waddy Jr., the attorney for the Ford family said. “We’re in this for the long haul. It’s extremely important to the family that this goes to trial.”
Waddy said he has faith in the system that Coffey will be found guilty.
The family was able to sue Coffey in civil court because a civil suit is easier to prove than a criminal suit.
In a civil suit, the burden of proof is 51 percent compared to a criminal trial, in which the burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt, said Welker.
Ford’s body was discovered July 12, 2001, on a hunting road near Tunis Road in Muskingum Township, a day after he was reported missing by his family. His body was discovered at 6 p.m. near his car. He had been shot three times and hit with a blunt object on the back of the head, according to court reports.
No weapon, either a gun or the object used to smash Ford in the back of the head, was recovered.
And the lack of evidence is exactly what Coffey’s attorneys are hoping will clear her.
One of Coffey’s attorneys, Jami Oliver, said she is “pretty confident” that once the case is presented to the jury that lack of evidence and witnesses who she intends to cross examine will have the jury agreeing with her.
“We think it’s sad this has to go to a jury trial, but we want to clear Stacey’s name,” Oliver said. Oliver and Columbus defense attorney, Adam Nemann, are both working on the case pro bono.
“We obviously think this is extremely important since we’re devoting so much time to this case for free when we should be working on our paying clients’ cases,” Oliver said. “We need to clear her name and this is how strongly we feel she deserves representation.”
Coffey became a suspect on June 18 that year when sheriff’s detectives issued a warrant to search her home. Again, no evidence was found linking Coffey to the murder or crime scene, Oliver said.
And, Oliver is quick to point out, there could be evidence that points directly to the killer.
“The police have evidence such as DNA and fingerprints that have never been tested,” Oliver said. “I am just praying that between now and the trial the detectives will have those tested and maybe arrest the real killer.”
Waddy claims that on March 17, 2001, Coffey confronted Ford about his dating another woman and started yelling at him and then struck him.
Waddy contends Coffey was also in touch with Ford just prior to his murder.
According to court records, a call was placed from the Coffey residence to Ford’s pager at 11:17 a.m. July 11. Just one minute later a call was placed from Ford’s residence to Coffey’s home lasting for almost four minutes.
Coffey told investigators she had called Ford to find out what time he would be holding an exercise class…
“We have faith in the system,” Waddy said. “Let’s let a jury of her peers make the determination.”
http://www.coshoctontribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071014/NEWS01/710140304/1002
Bizarre case. Such a Kungfoolss article.