A Toledo man was sentenced Wednesday by a Lucas County judge to serve 55 years to life in prison for fatally shooting his daughter’s grandmother in December, 2021.
Malcolm D. Fisher, 31, of the 700 block of Lagrange Street, previously entered an Alford plea — not admitting guilt — to aggravated murder, felonious assault, aggravated burglary, and having weapons while under disability for the death of Johanna Crawford, 66, of the 3100 block of Hazelton Drive.
“Several words can be used to describe your actions: heinous, depraved, reprehensible. But, to put it simply, you are a cold-blood killer. You took the life of the one person who truly wanted you to have a relationship with your daughter and as a result, you caused this child serious psychological harm,” Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Linda Jennings said, ahead of sentencing.
According to police, Mrs. Crawford, who had custody of Fisher’s 9-year-old daughter, Adeline, was found shot to death in her living room in Oregon at about 10:45 p.m. on Dec. 16.
After shooting Mrs. Crawford, Fisher allegedly took Adeline from her bedroom and fled to a home in the 1100 block of Joel Avenue in Toledo.
Toledo Police arrested Fisher at the home at 11:27 p.m.
Adeline was recovered safely and Fisher was booked into Lucas County jail in the early morning hours of Dec. 17.
Mrs. Crawford was a registered pediatric nurse, a foster parent, and a public advocate for the health and safety of children.
Mrs. Crawford’s husband, Knute Huber, previously told The Blade that issues with Fisher had been simmering for a while before the night of Dec. 16. Fisher wanted custody of Adeline and had twice gotten into verbal altercations with Mrs. Crawford in the days before she was killed. According to Mr. Huber, on the second occasion, the defendant had allegedly threatened to kill the woman.
“At nine and a half years old, no child should have to worry about their dad coming out of prison to shoot and kill their grandmother. This is Adeline’s reality,” Mr. Huber wrote in a letter read before Judge Linda Jennings ahead of Fisher’s sentencing.
He asked that Fisher be given the maximum possible sentenced.
Judge Jennings noted that Fisher has seven prior felony convictions. His first came when he was just 13 years old. When he killed Mrs. Crawford, Fisher was on parole in Wisconsin. He’d been released from prison just five months prior.
As a part of his plea agreement, Fisher agreed to register as a repeat violent offender.
“My understanding from his comments is that he takes responsibility for what he did wrong,” Fisher’s defense attorney Brad Hubbell said, referring to statements Fisher made in a pre-sentence report presented to the court.
“He is remorseful for all parties involved including himself, his daughter, the victim, and the victim’s family,” Mr. Hubbell said, noting that Fisher suffers from severe mental illness.
Fisher declined to make a statement before the court.
“Out of respect for the family, I would like to not speak,” the defendant said.
Judge Jennings said she believed Fisher’s earlier statements indicate he was not remorseful for his actions.
While being escorted from the courtroom following sentencing, Fisher said, “Love you all.” His comments were directed to the courtroom gallery where several members of the victim’s family and a few of his own loved ones had gathered.
First Published June 8, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
