Corey Harshey gets life sentence in killing of Nathan Green
NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ Corey Harshey was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for the fatal stabbing of his neighbor, Nathan S. Green.
Harshey, 35, will not be eligible for parole for 30 years.
He pleaded guilty to aggravated murder in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court after extensive negotiations between the prosecution and Harshey's defense attorneys on Tuesday. He had been scheduled to go on trial Wednesday.
He was originally charged with aggravated murder, murder (both unclassified felonies), felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, but all counts were merged into one count, aggravated murder, as part of a plea agreement. Since both the defense and the prosecution agreed to the plea, Harshey waived his right to appeal.
More on Harshey: Pretrial hearing postponed for suspect in New Philadelphia stabbing death
No motive for the attack
Green, 44, died Nov. 1, 2022, after he was stabbed on Oct. 28 at his apartment on First Drive NE. There was no clear motive for the attack.
After Green's death, his organs were donated to other people, Assistant Prosecutor Fred Scott said.
Scott told Judge Michael Ernest that the sentence protects the community, but also takes into account Harshey's mental illness, which was exacerbated by his own drug and alcohol use.
He said the family agreed to the plea deal because of the certainty that a plea provides and their desire to put the case behind them.
Family members speak
Both members of the Green and the Harshey family spoke about the impact the crime had on them.
Drake Jones read a statement on behalf of his wife, Amanda, who is Green's sister.
"I lie in bed each night wondering what the last minutes of life looked like for my brother," the statement said. "Was he in pain? Was he scared? Did he know these would be his last minutes? I see the images clearly of him lying in a hospital on life support, the blood-stained floor, as my children, husband and I said our last goodbyes. There's no peace now. There will never be full closure."
Addressing Harshey, Jones said on behalf of his wife, "I do hope that you feel the immense sadness and emptiness that my family now feels and that you will never have the opportunity to steal away the life of another person and the sense of safety that a person should have in their own home. Our family will be forever changed by your actions, and we will miss Nate's smile and loving personality."
Green's cousin, Tabitha Spaar, said Green was like a brother to her.
"You took a simple man who would have given you the shirt off his back if you needed it," she told Harshey. "He was one of the sweetest, kindest souls that has ever been put on this earth, and I can only hope and pray that you live with the thoughts of your actions every day."
A plea for forgiveness
Harshey's mother, Tara Frye, offered a tearful apology to the Green family.
"I do from the bottom of my heart and my family's heart, we pray for you. We pray for peace. We pray for forgiveness for everyone," she said.
"I just want you to know my heart is there with you, and I think of Nathan every day. And I want you to know that the mental health system has really let us down. We have fought for years to get help for my son, and it's so broken. I'm sorry that you were a victim of that as well, as we were. I'm hoping you can find it in your heart to forgive my son at some time in your life."
Harshey also spoke. "I wasn't in the right state of mind at the time, and I never meant to hurt anybody," he said.
Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Corey Harshey sentenced to life in prison in killing of Nathan Green
