Donna Roberts
Encyclopedia
Donna Roberts is an American
convicted of accomplice to murder
is the only woman on death row
in the state of Ohio
.
Roberts was convicted in 2003 of recruiting Nate Jackson while he was still in prison to kill her common law
husband Robert Fingerhut, which he did on December 11, 2001, in the house Roberts and Fingerhut shared. In her appeal, it is alleged that the police performed an illegal search of her car parked inside the garage since the search warrant was only for the home. Nate Jackson stated that Donna Roberts had no knowledge of his planned actions and this was video taped during his confession by the police and he also stated this during his trial. Jackson has also since been sentenced to death for his role in the murder.
Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio and student of Austintown Fitch High School. Married her first husband William Raymond in 1966 and moved to Miami, Florida. Had one child (Michael Raymond, son) in 1969 and later divorced 1971. She remarried to her second husband Burton Gelfand in 1972 and later divorced in 1980. She converted to become Jewish while living in Miami, Florida and worked as a plastic surgeon assistant for over 20 years in North Miami Beach, Florida. Donna met her late husband Robert Fingerhut in 1980 (born in New Jersey, graduate of North Miami High & University of Miami). They married and bought a home in Miami, near Miami Gardens and Ives Estates in 1983. They sold their home and moved to Richmond, VA for one year in 1993 and then moved back to Youngstown, Ohio. Donna purchased their new home in Niles (Warren) in 1994 located on Fonderlac Ave. During this time, Donna & Robert managed the Avis car rental franchise at the Youngstown-Warren regional airport for several years. They later managed both the Youngstown & Warren Greyhound bus stations and turned them into successful locations. For a short period of time, Donna also ran a small restaurant located within the Youngstown Bus Terminal called "Just the Ticket."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
convicted of accomplice to murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
is the only woman on death row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
in the state of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Roberts was convicted in 2003 of recruiting Nate Jackson while he was still in prison to kill her common law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
husband Robert Fingerhut, which he did on December 11, 2001, in the house Roberts and Fingerhut shared. In her appeal, it is alleged that the police performed an illegal search of her car parked inside the garage since the search warrant was only for the home. Nate Jackson stated that Donna Roberts had no knowledge of his planned actions and this was video taped during his confession by the police and he also stated this during his trial. Jackson has also since been sentenced to death for his role in the murder.
Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio and student of Austintown Fitch High School. Married her first husband William Raymond in 1966 and moved to Miami, Florida. Had one child (Michael Raymond, son) in 1969 and later divorced 1971. She remarried to her second husband Burton Gelfand in 1972 and later divorced in 1980. She converted to become Jewish while living in Miami, Florida and worked as a plastic surgeon assistant for over 20 years in North Miami Beach, Florida. Donna met her late husband Robert Fingerhut in 1980 (born in New Jersey, graduate of North Miami High & University of Miami). They married and bought a home in Miami, near Miami Gardens and Ives Estates in 1983. They sold their home and moved to Richmond, VA for one year in 1993 and then moved back to Youngstown, Ohio. Donna purchased their new home in Niles (Warren) in 1994 located on Fonderlac Ave. During this time, Donna & Robert managed the Avis car rental franchise at the Youngstown-Warren regional airport for several years. They later managed both the Youngstown & Warren Greyhound bus stations and turned them into successful locations. For a short period of time, Donna also ran a small restaurant located within the Youngstown Bus Terminal called "Just the Ticket."