Stephanie Oden is familiar with loss, and so are her children. With Narlon “Skeeter” Portis’ murder in 2025, her children lost a second father.
“He was a great father,” Oden said, explaining how he loved his mother and extended family. “I don’t regret him at all.”
Although Portis struggled with drug addiction, he was well on the way to recovery. Oden described his accomplishments toward sobriety as “stellar.” But Portis and his family never had the chance to enjoy his recovery, Oden said, when on May 10, 2025, Rosue Pierce thrust a knife into him after an argument over loud music.
Over a year later and after a weeklong trial, Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Kathryn Michael sentenced Pierce, 57, to life in prison on July 27 for Portis’ murder. He will be 71 years old when he can apply for parole.
Pierce represented himself in the trial with attorney Job Perry as standby counsel. Pierce waived his right to a jury trial, so Michael acted as jury and judge in the bench trial. She found him guilty of felony murder and felonious assault.
“He really did not deserve this,” Oden said of Portis, speaking at Pierce’s sentencing hearing.
Rosue Pierce rehashes trial arguments
Pierce said he understood the family’s anger toward him, but he felt that “some things may be a little askew.” He then expressed his condolences but did not apologize for killing Portis.
Speaking at his sentencing hearing, he largely reiterated his trial arguments, including that he acted in self-defense and was scared for his life.
“It was not a malicious intent to hurt this man. I walked away twice,” Pierce said. “They pursued. What choice did I have?”
Video footage of the incident shown during the trial showed Portis followed Pierce after the verbal argument over music. They walked toward the house and a set of grills, where Pierce grabbed a knife. That’s when Portis stopped and put his fists up. Pierce then turned, took at least three steps and stabbed Portis.
During the trial, Pierce repeatedly described Portis as his friend, but he also said Portis was aggressive and acted violently in the seconds before the fatal stabbing. By Pierce’s telling, Portis and a second man pursued him with the intent to assault him at a daytime party thrown outside a drug recovery housing facility.
Pierce also repeated claims that Portis had marijuana and a white powdered substance in his van on May 10, 2025, which Michael disputed, saying the record reflected that no drugs were recovered from inside the van.
Family remembers Narlon Portis
Oden came to Portis’ defense, saying he had two jobs and a vehicle. He made his family proud, but most importantly, he made his mother proud. And Judith Nurse is proud of her son. Although that pride will always remain, Nurse said her heart continues to break for herself, her family and his niece, who misses him deeply.
Nurse described her son as a kind, loving and helpful person who promised never to carry a knife or firearm.
But Pierce took that all away, Oden said.
“I pray that you do better,” Oden said. “I ask God to forgive you, because hell is hot.”
Bryce Buyakie is an Akron-based reporter who covers the courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com or on X @bryce_buyakie.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron man sentenced to life in prison for killing Narlon Portis
Reporting by Bryce Buyakie, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Bryce Buyakie, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
