Kent State grad student dies from January assault

Kelly Byer

The 28-year-old Kent State graduate student assaulted in downtown Kent in January died yesterday, according to an investigator at the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office.

John T. White of Delaware was assaulted Jan. 23 at 2:30 a.m. near the intersection of South Water and West Main streets.

White, an Iraq War veteran, suffered head injuries and was transported to Akron City Hospital where he was placed in intensive care.

John H. Ragin Jr., 21, of Akron was arrested for felonious assault on Jan. 26 without incident at his residence. He pleaded not guilty to the second-degree felony at his arraignment on Feb. 5 in front of Judge John A. Enlow at the Portage County Common Pleas Court in Ravenna. Ragin’s pre-trial hearing is scheduled for March 25.

Court officials said the altercation supposedly occurred outside the bars in Kent after Ragin involved himself in a verbal altercation between White and a female.

Hallie E. Nuspl, 21, of Akron was later arrested in connection with the assault on Feb. 8 and was released the same day from the Portage County jail on a $20,000 personal recognizance bond.

Nuspl was charged with one count each of obstructing official business, a fifth-degree felony, and assault, a first-degree misdemeanor. She pleaded not guilty at her arraignment on Feb. 15 and has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for July 9 at the Portage County Common Pleas Court.

-Kelly Byer

Related stories:

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Another indicted for KSU student’s assault

Ragin pleads not guilty in case of graduate student’s assault

Police arrest assault suspect Tuesday

Police investigate assault on student

Location of the alleged assault