First Posted: 2/23/2015
LIMA — A psychologist testifying on behalf of a man facing the death penalty Monday said Hager Church was sexually abused and began using alcohol at a young age contributing to his life of crime as an adult.
Forensic Psychologist Bob Stinson testified Church had many bad influences in his life as a child that created the person he is today. From the time he was 5 to 7, Church was sexually abused by family members.
Church also was subjected to domestic violence in his family as a child. Church’s parents used alcohol and his father used illegal drugs, Stinson said.
Church, 30, was convicted of two counts of aggravated murder and aggravated arson in the June 14, 2009, house fire he set that killed Massie “Tina” Flint, 45, and Rex Hall, 54.
Church began drinking beer and using marijuana at 7. By 13, he was drinking liquor.
“They realize it’s a way to avoid those negative emotions and a way to numb how they’re feeling,” Stinson said.
He also has bipolar disorder that consist of depression and then extreme mood swings in the opposite direction. Church also had a learning disability and struggled in school, Stinson said.
He had other issues in his life such as a broken nose, was in a car accident and nearly overdosed on drugs at age 17, Stinson said.
Church never received the correct treatment for his issues, Stinson said.
His family also struggled financially. The bulk of the $600 his father received in disability each month was spent buying alcohol and drugs, Stinson said.
“There were a lot of negative influences,” he said.
Prosecutor Juergen Waldick questioned Stinson on whether Church sought substance abuse or other treatment outside of a court order in a criminal case. Stinson said no.
Church’s pastor, Keith Hamblen, testified saying Church has expressed remorse for his crimes and he believes Church is sincere.
The trial is now in the penalty phase where the jury must decide whether Church should pay for killing two people with the death penalty or receive a life sentence. Church already is serving a life sentence with no chance for parole for a 2010 killing of a woman.
The trial is scheduled to resume Tuesday morning possibly with closing arguments in the penalty phase. Judge Jeffrey Reed of Allen County Common Pleas Court must decide whether the jury can review about 2,900 pages of records from Church’s childhood that include documents from criminal cases at juvenile court and services offered to Church to try to get him help.
