Defense attorney Lou DeFabio sits with his client, Michael Blower, prior to Friday’s sentencing hearing in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court. Blower was given a life sentence, with parole eligibility after 18 years, for shooting Rusty Steele to death in Lisbon on March 3, 2023. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)

LISBON — Family members of Rusty Steele described him as the kind of guy who would do anything for anyone, give the shirt off his back even, and Michael Blower knew it.

All involved said Blower took advantage of Rusty Steele’s altruistic nature the night of March 3, 2023 when once again, Rusty offered his help to someone in need, a stranger who reported having car trouble.

As Rusty exited the house and started his own vehicle to provide a jump, Blower appeared and shot him once, killing the 40-year-old father, son, brother, uncle and friend.

Blower faced his punishment Friday for murder and a firearm specification, receiving a sentence of 18 years to life in prison. He’ll have to serve the mandatory three years for using a gun first, then the life sentence which includes parole eligibility after 15 years, in this case 18 years since the terms must be served consecutively.

“This was cold, calculated murder,” Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton said.

While talking to Blower before issuing the sentence, she told him this wasn’t some spur of the moment act.

“You had time to make a better decision, but you didn’t,” Bickerton said.

This was planned and she pointed out that he got a friend involved, too. She said Blower hid himself and then once Rusty Steele came outside under a ruse, that’s when he shot him. That’s a coward, she said.

“You did something that’s irreversible. You took a life,” Bickerton told him.

County Assistant Prosecutor Alec Beech described the events that led up to the murder, explaining that Blower’s wife had children with Rusty and there was a domestic dispute involving Blower and Rusty that day. Blower and Christopher Mills, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison for his part in the murder, drove to the Lisbon residence on West Spruce Street where Rusty was and “they used his propensity to help others as a way to get him out of the residence.”

Beech said it was obvious how many people loved Rusty by the number of people in the courtroom and the number who wrote letters to the court. Five people spoke at the podium to the judge regarding Rusty and what he meant to them, including his mother, his stepmother and two sisters.

Wearing a Justice for Rusty T-shirt, Bonnie Bowersock said “my son was amazing. He was there for family and even people he didn’t know.”

She called him her right arm and said “I’ll never be complete.”

She talked about the loss for his daughters because of the injustice done. She talked about his best friend that he used to go hunting with, how hard the loss has been for him.

She referred to Blower and said, “This man made plans to lure him out of the house. They knew he had a heart of gold,” she said.

Alice Steele, Rusty’s stepmom, wore a sweatshirt that said “In memory of Rusty Steele.” She called him her “son at heart” and said he had his whole life in front of him and now there’s “a void in my heart.”

Rusty’s sisters, Teresa Crane and Amy Meyers, each spoke through tears about their brother, with Teresa talking about his smile and how they won’t be seeing any more smiles from him or hear him laugh.

“He was a great man, a great Dad, a great friend and a great big brother,” Amy said.

Last to speak was Brianna Steele, who said “our family no longer feels safe in our home.”

She recalled how the last time a knock was answered, Rusty never came back inside. Now they’re afraid and they’ve lost their sense of security.

Defense attorney Lou DeFabio told the judge there’s one sentence the court can give by statute, and that’s the 18 years to life.

He talked about the domestic dispute and an argument that took place between Rusty Steele and his client’s wife, saying it got heated, involved threats and got nasty.

He said his client would admit, once that ended, “from that point on, he made every bad decision he could make.”

DeFabio said that Blower has a family that loves him dearly and a grandfather that was in law enforcement most of his life. With his anger and everything else, he said his client went down a bad path. There was a single shot. He noted that his client did the right thing and went to the authorities, he accepted responsibility when he entered a guilty plea in January.

“I know his family wants to apologize to the victim’s family. I know Michael wants to apologize,” DeFabio said.

Blower briefly addressed the court, saying he was sorry.

“I just want to apologize to the family, apologize to my family and apologize to the court,” he said.

Bickerton offered her condolences to Rusty’s family and told Blower she felt for them and agreed with them that he should never be able to walk the streets again. She gave him the only sentence she could based on state statute. He received credit for 384 days already served in jail and was given a $5,000 fine, with fines and costs stayed. He was also designated a violent offender, with a registration requirement if and when he’s released from prison.

After the sentencing, when asked if there was a sense of closure, Rusty’s stepmom Alice Steele said it’ll never be over for her. When asked about Rusty, she said he liked to work on cars. Rusty was a Beaver Local graduate who went to the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center. His mom, Bonnie, said he spent a lot of time fishing and hunting. He liked spending time with family. As they all said, he would do anything for anyone.

“They can’t bring my son back,” Bonnie said.

“We hope the sentence provides some sort of justice for the victim’s family. Our office appreciates the efforts of the Lisbon Police Department in investigating this case,” Beech said.

Christopher Mills, 43, Washington Street, Washingtonville, pleaded guilty recently to a lesser offense of conspiracy to commit murder, a first-degree felony, along with a firearm specification since a gun was used to commit the offense, and obstructing justice, a third-degree felony.

He was first indicted for obstructing justice for driving Blower to and from the scene, but then later was indicted for complicity to aggravated murder and complicity to murder, with a firearm specifications for each.

The conspiracy charge was a lesser offense of the complicity charge. One of the complicity counts and a second firearm specification were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Beech said previously that Mills played a part in getting the victim out of the house, besides driving Blower to and from the scene.