Media Dusaster: The Guardian (UK, US, Aus)

Alabama Reflector, Join the Club
Florida Phoenix, Join the Club
Newsweek, Join the Club

 

To: The Scott Trust

Guardian  Media Group

The Guardian (UK, US, Aus)

The Observer

 

bcc: Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall

many more at bottom

 

RE: ‘Astonishingly cruel’: Alabama seeks to test execution method on death row ‘guinea pig’, Ed Pilkington, The Guardian (US), Sept 2, 2023

 

Subject: "Nitrogen Hypoxia": The Guardian, How bad can journalism get?

 

From:  Dudley Sharp, independent researcher, death penalty expert, former opponent, 832-439-2113, CV at bottom   

 

Preface

 

The GNM editorial code guidance   A. Accuracy and objectivity

 

"Journalists should take care to be accurate. Significant errors must be corrected as soon as possible, and if a piece of journalism misleads, it should be clarified. Any significant corrections should be made through the readers’ editor. Journalists working in news should always strive to be fair and objective in their reporting, and recognise how their natural personal biases could affect that."

 

 "Comment is free, but facts are sacred." CP Scott

 

Preface 2

 

This is a, fairly, standard piece, by the Guardian, meaning anti-death penalty one-sided, little to no independent research, if any, and little to no fact checking nor vetting of the facts presented, an obvious bias against any balance, a conscious effort to violate ethical standards, if thought was even necessary - at this juncture, it may be automatic.

 

The article is ludicrous, if journalism means anything. Does it?

 

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Method: I quote the article and, then, reply as Sharp.

 

1) Guardian: Title: ‘Astonishingly cruel’: Alabama seeks to test execution method on death row ‘guinea pig’

 

Sharp: The effects of nitrogen hypoxia, have been well known, for decades (1), see sucides, NASA, industrial accidents, etc. (1). Unconsciousness occurs within 12-18 seconds with a tube (1), or, likely, sooner with a mask (1), as planned, and, nearly instantaneous, in some of the industrial accidents (1),  with death. most often, soon thereafter (1). The data is conclusive and consistent (1). There is no suffocation effect.

 

"Astonishing cruel" is the opposite of the known evidence.

 

2) Guardian: "Kenneth Smith is one of two living Americans who can describe what it is like to survive an execution, having endured an aborted lethal injection last November during which he was subjected to excruciating pain tantamount, his lawyers claim, to torture."

 

Sharp: Reality matters. Smith is one of countless millions or billions to have survived needle pricks. For perspective, look at the torture of the actual innocent murder victims.

 

3) Guardian:  "If the state of Alabama has its way, he will become the test dummy for an execution method that has never before been used in judicial killings and which veterinarians consider unacceptable as a form of euthanasia for animals – death by nitrogen gas."

 

Sharp:  Somehow, the Guardian "forgot" to mention that if Smith has his way, he will be executed by nitrogen hypoxia. Pretty huge omission. Nitrogen hypoxia is fine for some animals (2) , but not for others (2). Guardian forget that as well? If facts are sacred, the Guardian knows that the protocols for animals and homo sapiens are very different (1,2). Based upon the huge amount of evidence (1), nitrogen hypoxia will be fine for homo sapien murderers (1), which is why anti-death penalty folks are falling all over themselves to create a fictional response to its use.

 

4) Guardian: "The method, known as “nitrogen hypoxia”, theoretically works by replacing the oxygen breathed by the prisoner with nitrogen."

 

Sharp: Idiotic. It is not, remotely, theoretical (1). It is a fact that we know that is, exactly, how it works. All of the many, well known deaths, by nitrogen hypoxia (1), are because  the displacement of oxygen, by nitrogen, was to a degree that caused unconsciousness and death (1), in the vast majority of cases. It is a well known fact that it works (1).

 

5) The Guardian states knowing that by:

 

Guardian: "In minutes that would reduce oxygen levels in the individual’s brain and other vital organs to fatally low levels, leading to death by suffocation."

 

Sharp: The evidence is that, after taking a full breath of nitrogen gas, that it will take 30 or less to become unconscious, not minutes. That is not theoretical, but a fact, EXCEPT for "by suffocation". There is no suffocation effect with nitrogen hypoxia (1).  Where did the Guardian confirm there was suffocation? Pilkington? You become unconscious and you die, in the majority of cases. Not theoretical. A well known fact (1).

 

6) Guardian:  "Death penalty experts have decried what is in effect a human experiment. The choice of Smith as the first candidate for the technique, less than a year after he experienced a failed execution, has also been criticized as a double violation of the eighth amendment protection against “cruel and unusual punishments”.

 

Sharp: Based upon this article, that would, most likely, be anti-death penalty experts who are as willfully ignorant and/or as, intentionally, misleading as is the Guardian. Why zero balance, intentionally, not including pro-death penalty experts? Pilkington? I know the answer. It is in within this reply.

 

7) Guardian: "In 2022, Smith was one of three Alabama death row inmates who suffered catastrophic lethal injection procedures. Officials spent hours unsuccessfully trying to set an intravenous line through which to pump the drugs into him."

 

Sharp: "!!!Catastrophic!!!" needle pricks.

 

Multiple needle pricks, for any IV process,  are very well known as necessary with those who have vein issues, inclusive of those caused by lifestyle, as with diet, lack of exercise, IV drug use, obesity - all conditions, well known for those living a life of criminal activity, as well as intentional obesity,  intentional dehydration and intentional lack of exercise, a collective, intentional effort to thwart the execution process,  as well as with various medical conditions, not connected to lifestyle or those intentional efforts, as well as by an incompetent IV techs. 

 

8) Guardian: "Earlier that year, the state took more than three hours to kill Joe Nathan James and later abandoned the execution of Alan Miller after also failing to find a vein. An inquiry was held into the string of disasters, but resulted in no meaningful changes."

 

Sharp: "!!!DISASTROUS!!!" needle pricks.

 

Untrue, of course, as Alabama has detailed with the media,  new execution staff have been added, including a pool  of medical professionals, new equipment has been added and more rehearsals have been added and the execution team will be provided more time to complete its duties and they have an additional method of execution, as well.

 

These are the exact, meaningful changes that anyone would expect.  The factual opposite of "no meaningful changes". It is plain, the intention of the Guardian's article.

 

Will the Guardian make all the meaningful changes in their reporting, to avoid such disasters in the future? Pilkington?

 

My guess? They Guardian cares enough NOT to make changes.

 

9) Guardian: "Maya Foa, a joint executive director of Reprieve, the human rights group, said  “Alabama has tortured Kenneth Smith once already, strapping him down and stabbing him with needles for more than an hour in a failed attempt to kill him. It is astonishingly reckless and cruel to try again using an untested execution method that has every chance of causing terrible suffering,” 

 

Sharp: As willfully ignorant and/or as misleading, as the Guardian. There is no difference between Foa and the Guardian, because that is the intended lack of balance. "!!!TORTURE!!!" with needle pricks. Foa, will you present the evidence of "terrible suffering with this method? Pilkington?

 

10) Guardian: "Foa added that Alabama’s new published protocol for death-by-nitrogen was “alarmingly vague – officials evidently don’t know what they are doing and are hoping for the best. The state is treating a human being like a guinea pig in a laboratory and calling it justice.”

 

Sharp: False. It is not vague, at all, as detailed, from the known facts and from the Guardian:

 

11) Guardian: "The protocol includes a brief passage on nitrogen hypoxia that has large sections hidden from public view. “This is a vague, sloppy, dangerous and unjustifiably deficient protocol made all the more incomprehensible by heavy redaction in the most important places,” " The details given are so vague, that it leaves experts to “only speculate about how a state might conduct a nitrogen hypoxia execution” "the placement of a mask on a prisoner’s face “is especially puzzling – what if the inmate tries to take it off, immediately or during the procedure?” said Deborah Denno, a law professor at the Fordham University law school who has done pioneering research on execution methods."

 

Sharp: Quite the pioneer. Denno believes that the murderer will be able to reach up and take the mask off. Really? Dunno is unaware that the arms and body will be secured,  with a system, securing the head. 

 

Even the Guardian has to find both Denno's and Foe's description idiotic.How do we know? Because the Guardian describes the protocol, here:

 

"The protocol, the first that a state has released publicly for nitrogen, indicates that the gas will be pumped into Smith through a “mask assembly”, which will be connected to “breathing gas tubing”. “The mask will be placed and adjusted on the condemned inmate’s face”, it says, and then after the prisoner has been allowed to make a final statement “the Warden will activate the nitrogen hypoxia system”. The gas will be passed through the mask into the prisoner for 15 minutes, or for five minutes beyond the moment that he flatlines, whichever is longer, the protocol says."

 

That is the complete protocol with nitrogen hypoxia. It is that simple, as we, already knew from the tube experiment and with suicides (1), one of which used a mask (1).  The murderers head, arms, legs, hands and body will be secured, on the lethal injection platform, I suspect. The, only, addition, would be a restraint on the head, when using a mask. 

 

12) Guardian: "Joel Zivot, a professor of anesthesiology and an expert in lethal injections at Emory University, said that even the term “nitrogen hypoxia” was a misnomer. “Hypoxia means low in oxygen, so someone has combined that with nitrogen and called it a thing. Medically, it’s not a thing – there is no such thing as nitrogen hypoxia. It’s a made-up term,” Zivot said.

 

Sharp: The Guardian gets three well known anti-death penalty people, none of which are identified as anti-death penalty, within the article., and the Guardian got nothing but nonsense from them. 

 

13) Guardian: "Zivot believes the phrase is being used to normalize an untried killing method. “It creates a false sense that it is medically endorsed, which it is not."

 

Sharp: Laughable. It is a well known killing method, for many decades (1). For medical professionals, who approves of suicides, I can see no reason why they would disapprove of nitrogen hypoxia. 

 

Possibly, Zivot can understand this:

 

Hypoxia can be caused by different things"

• Anaemia, a condition caused by a reduced amount of functional hemoglobin, reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood,
• Heart diseases and lung diseases such as COPD, Emphysema, Bronchitis, Pulmonary edema
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• inert gases such as  argon, helium, nitrogen, which can displace the oxygen

Which can be called hypoxia by anemia, or anemia hypoxia, hypoxia by carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide hypoxia, hypoxia by nitrogen or nitrogen hypoxia, Simple, basic. Why Zivot had a hard time with this is not a mystery.

 

14) Guardian: "Zivot suggested, was that Alabama had no idea whether nitrogen could be used to kill Smith without him suffering a cruel and unusual punishment banned under the US constitution. “They have no clear understanding of what they’re supposed to be doing, and yet they are satisfied with scant anecdotal pieces of information for the highest, most serious form of punishment,” he said."

 

Sharp: All of that is, obviously, intentionally false (1). I consider Zivot an anti-death penalty activist, who happens to have an MD. Not much imagination needed.

 

I can see why the Guardian found Foa, Denno and Zivot such informed experts for your story. They have so informed your readers (, as planned?).

 

15) Guardian: "Nitrogen has been approved as an execution method by three states: Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma." " By contrast, euthanasia guidelines produced by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), which represents 100,000 veterinarians in the US, reject nitrogen hypoxia for almost all mammals. The gas creates an environment devoid of oxygen that is “distressing for some species”.

 

Sharp:  All the evidence is that, with the species homo sapiens, there is no distress (1) caused by the nitrogen hypoxia method.  AVMA is speaking of mass killings in rooms, not masks, and in an atmosphere of <2% oxygen, when, instead, in human executions,  a mask will have an atmosphere of 0% oxygen and 100% nitrogen.

 

A completely different species and a completely different protocol, than with AVMA. Obvious.

 

In Closing

 

I find the Guardian article to be inaccurate and misleading. Ask yourself: How could this not be intentional? See Preface.

 

If you find anything I have written to be, factually, in error or misleading, I will be more than happy to review it.

 

This will likely rebut much of the information in your prior death penalty stories (3). I hope you will use it for fact checking/vetting, for the Guardians future death penalty articles and that you will contact the five pro-death penalty experts, therein (3).

 

FN

 

1)  Nitrogen Gas; Flawless, proven, peaceful, unrestricted method of execution 

https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2014/09/nitrogen-gas-flawless-peaceful.html 

 

2)  M1.5 NITROGEN, ARGON, p 27-28, AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2020 Edition

https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2020-02/Guidelines-on-Euthanasia-2020.pdf 

 

3) Research, w/sources, w/fact checking/vetting & critical thinking, as required of everyone.  

 

The Death Penalty: Justice & Saving More Innocents

https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-death-penalty-justice-saving-more.html

and

Students, Academics & Journalists: Death Penalty Research

https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2022/01/students-death-penalty-research.html

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600+ pro death penalty quotes from murder victim's families &

3300+ from some of the greatest thinkers in history

http://prodpquotes.info/ 

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Victim Services

https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2023/03/victim-services.html  

 

Victims' Voices

https://www.marsyslaw.us/victims_voices 

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Partial CV

https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2021/08/partial-cv-dudley-sharp-independent.html

 

 

Bcc: many more

Governor Kay Ivey, staff and cabinet

Alabama Dept. of Corrections

ALABAMA BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES

Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission

Bibb County Sheriff's Office

Victims of Crime and Leniency

Parents of Murdered Children

Media throughout Alabama & the World

Academic Disaster: Prof. David Garland

Currently under editing

Academic Disaster: Prof. David Garland
The 5 Myths of Prof. David Garland – death penalty
Dudley Sharp, independent researcher, death penalty expert, former opponent, 832-439-2113, CV at bottom

Re: Full Rebuttal:

“Five myths about the death penalty”, By David Garland, July 18, 2010, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/16/AR2010071602717.html

I rebutted Garland in 2010, here:
https://homicidesurvivors.com/2010/07/21/the-5-myths-of-prof-david-garland-death-penalty/

and another, here, 2012
https://thesocietypages.org/officehours/2012/04/27/david-garland-on-the-death-penalty/

My norm is to send to the authors. Garland should have received this in 2010 and did in 2012.

I have updated my response, in red, from 2026.

======

It is difficult to say if Prof . Garland is just sloppy or if, like many in academia, he is happy to peddle bias in service of a goal, here, an end to execution.

Lets’ look at Garland’s myths:

1) Garland fails to mention that it is the judges that make the imposition of the death penalty all but impossible, in some jurisdictions (1). Dictatorial judges in New Jersey never allowed an execution. There, the death penalty was repealed. Pennsylvania judges never allow executions other than those whereby the inmates waive appeals. If you appeal a death sentence in Pa, you have a life sentence, even if your death sentence is not overturned. Similar abusive judicial behavior is legendary in California and Connecticut.

The death penalty in Virginia? Inmates are executed within 7.1 years, on average, after sentencing, 75% of those sentenced to death have been executed and only 15% of death row cases are overturned on appeal. The national averages for those are 11 years, 13% and 37%, respectively, in 2025/2026 it is 22 years of appeals, prior to execution.

The difference is in the judges (1).

Victim survivors in death penalty cases are knowingly and unnecessarily tortured by such irresponsible and callous judges, as in NJ, Pa, Ct and Ca and others, nationwide.

Garland gives the false hope that by replacing the death penalty with a life sentence that we can avoid these problems. All states are, now, looking at ways to release lifers, early, for overcrowding and cost issues.

Instead of the abusive performance of judges in so many death penalty jurisdictions, abuse which should be stopped, those murder victim survivors would then be served a recurring theme of releasing those lifer murderers of their loved ones.

The same legal challenges that have been used for years to restrict death penalty applications, are now being repeated in challenging life sentences. Pro death penalty folks have been stating that pending course for years and it is now in full swing. Murderers serving life sentences can appeal for life.

2 and 3. Yes, fortunately, American democracy is stronger. Even in Europe, the collection of countries whose governments are most opposed to the death penalty, the majority of their populations do support the death penalty for some crimes (2). Those governments could care less.

It may be the case that a majority of citizens in every country support executions for some crimes, based upon the proposition that such sanction is a morally just and proportionate sanction for the crime(s) committed, the foundation of support for all criminal sanctions and with the death penalty/executions saving and protecting innocents, in six ways, better than life without parole (LWOP) (((((())))))).

The insult here is that Garland believes that governments ban the death penalty because they know better, that they are wiser than those whom they govern, similar in fashion to the dictatorial judges who confound the law, as reviewed. In fact, it is simply a product of Garland’s bias, with no evidence to support it and a false sense of parental superiority guiding it.

4. Predictably, Garland says “it stretches credulity to think that the death penalty, as administered in the United States today, can be an effective means for deterring murder”.

Note, that Garland’s hedge is “effective”, which he can define in any manner he wishes.

Of course the death penalty deters. All prospects of any negative outcome deter some (((((()))))). There is no exception.

Let’s say that only 0.5% of murderers are deterred every year because of deterrence. It is a very small percentage of murders deterred, but huge in terms of lives saved, about 90 innocents saved per year, on average, since 1977, 4500 innocents saved  through 2026, noting an 18,000 murders/yr. average during that time.

Is that effective, enough, for Garland? Probably not. 

For many, against the death penalty, it wouldn’t matter if thousands of  innocent lives were spared per execution of guilty murderers, because of deterrence. they would still seek its end, as they confess here ((())). Horrendous.

Of the recent (since 1996) 24 studies finding for deterrence, there is a range of deterrence detected, between 1 and 28 lives spared per execution (3), with an average of about 30 executions per year, since 1977, which equates to about 30-900 innocents spared per year because of deterrence, or 1500-45,000 through 2026.

Garland states that “66 percent have their death sentences overturned on appeal or post-conviction review. He needs to fact check. It is 37%. (4)

Garland states that “a smaller number — 139 — have been exonerated in the past 30 years”. Fact checking is definitely not Garland’s thing. The 139 exonerated is well known fraud and easily uncovered by anyone who cared to fact check. (4)

5. Of course the death penalty works. Everyone who has been executed has remained dead.

6. Garland states: “An Indiana study last month showed that capital sentences cost 10 times more than life in prison without parole.”

Not surprisingly, Garland didn’t fact check nor vet that story either. It is about 12% more expensive not the 1000% (10 times) that Garland found. (5)

7. Garland closes: “Getting past the myths and looking at how the death penalty actually operates is one place to start. ”

How would he know?

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FN

1) Judicial Disaster: Their Anti-death Penalty Mess
 https://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2025/05/judicial-disasters-their-anti-death.html

2) “Death Penalty Support Remains Very High: USA & The World”
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/07/death-penalty-polls-support-remains.html and . . .

The majority populations in Western Europe supported the execution of Iraqi dictator and mass murderer Saddam Hussein

3) 28 recent studies finding for deterrence, Criminal Justice Legal Foundation
See Published Research, Working Papers and Essays at http://www.cjlf.org/deathpenalty/dpdeterrencefull.htm

4) “A Broken Study: A Review of ‘A Broken System’ ”
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2009/10/broken-study-review-of-broken-system.html

5) “The 130 (now 139) death row ‘innocents’ scam”
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/03/04/fact-checking-issues-on-innocence-and-the-death-penalty.aspx

6) Garland was referencing a review that didn’t look at all the costs and stated that it didn’t include all the costs. With one exception, this one appears to.

See Background Information, page 2, Fiscal Impact Statement, Legislative Services Agency,
http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2008/PDF/FISCAL/HB1074.004.pdf

Costs per case
$758, 243 for death penalty
$657, 028 for LWOP

However, this excludes the credit of savings for plea bargain to LWOP, which I suspect saves at least $20, 000 per case, solely attributed to having the death penalty.

That would bring the differential down to about $80,000 – the death penalty and LWOP cost amounts are already present valued.

$738, 000 for death penalty (inclusive of LWOP plea credit cost savings, solely attributable to having the death penalty)
$657, 000 for LWOP

The death penalty is 12% more than LWOP.

Ohio's Death Row 2025

Summaries of the crimes, Below, as per the 115 active death row cases,
at the time of the Annual Report, page 67-181, as per
Ohio AG Yost's  2025 Capital Crimes Annual  Report
https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Reports/Capital-Crimes-Annual-Reports/2025-Cap-Crimes-Annual-Report_WEB.aspx

Sharp notes

so far  113 murderers with 155 murders

Nearly all the murders can be described as torture murders

Many children raped and murdered or murdered

2 cops murdered

9 in prison murders

2 innocents murdered by those prisoners they were trying to help, via prison ministries. The prisoners got out and murdered them, in the free world

In alphabetical order, as per the Annual Report, page 67-181

The number after the paragraph number is the number of murders.

NOTE: I have 113 cases, not 1115, and will go back and re check, later

1)  2  

Adams, Stanley T. Trumbull County '

ummary of Crime: On 10/11/99, Adams murdered 43-year-old Esther Cook and her 12-year-old daughter, Ashley Cook, in their Warren home. Ms. Cook had previously allowed Adams to live with her and Ashley. Adams beat Ms. Cook to death, breaking her nose and ribs and causing severe trauma to her head, neck, chest, and abdomen. Adams raped Ashley, punched her multiple times in the mouth, hit her in the head, and strangled her with an electrical cord.

2) 4   

Ahmed, Nawaz Belmont County

Summary of Crime: On 09/11/99, Ahmed murdered his estranged wife, 39-year-old Dr. Lubaina Bhatti, her father, 78- year-old Abdul Majid Bhatti, her sister, 35-year-old Ruhie Ahmed, and her niece, 2-year-old Nasira 

3) 1  

Allen, David W. Cuyahoga County 

Summary of Crime: On or about 01/24/91, Allen murdered 84-year-old Chloie English in her Bedford home. Ms. English had met Allen when she came to visit him and other prisoners as part of her church ministry program. After his release from prison, Allen beat Ms. English, strangled her, slit her wrists, and stabbed her 16 times. Allen also stole her money, credit cards, and checkbook.

4) 1   

Apanovitch, Anthony Cuyahoga County 

Summary of Crime: On 08/23/84, Apanovitch murdered 33-year-old Mary Ann Flynn in her Cleveland home. Ms. Flynn had hired Apanovitch to paint her house. Apanovitch tied up Ms. Flynn, raped her, brutally beat her, and stabbed her in the neck with wood from the windowsill in her bedroom. DNA testing, conducted in 2006, identified Apanovitch as the source of the sperm found inside Ms. Flynn’s mouth.

5) 1   

Bays, Richard Greene County 

Summary of Crime: On 11/15/93, Bays murdered 76-year-old wheelchair-bound Charles Weaver in Weaver’s Xenia home. After smoking crack cocaine, Bays went to Mr. Weaver’s house to borrow money. When Mr. Weaver told Bays that he did not have any money, Bays beat him with a battery charger and a portable tape recorder and then stabbed him several times with a kitchen knife. 

6) 3  

Beasley, Richard Summit County 

Summary of Crime: In August 2011 Beasley and his co-defendant, Brogan Rafferty, murdered Ralph Geiger (age 56 from Akron, Ohio) by shooting him in the back of the head and then buried him in a shallow grave. In October and November of 2011, Beasley, who had assumed Mr. Geiger’s identity, and Rafferty used an advertisement on Craigslist for a fictitious farmhand job to lure David Pauley (age 51 from Norfolk, Virginia), Timothy Kern (age 47 from Massillon, Ohio) and Scott Davis (age 49 from South Carolina) to remote locations in Noble and Summit Counties. Beasley and Rafferty shot, killed and buried Mr. Pauley and Mr. Kern in shallow graves. The pair also attempted to murder Mr. Davis, but he was able to escape with a gunshot wound to his elbow. (Beasley received the death penalty for all three slain men.) (Rafferty received life without the possibility of parole for his participation in the crimes.

7)  1  

Belton, Anthony Lucas County 

Summary of Crime: On 08/13/08, Belton murdered 34-year-old Matthew Dugan. Belton shot Mr. Dugan in the head during a robbery of the Toledo BP gas station where Mr. Dugan was employed. 

8)   2  

Bethel, Jr., Robert Franklin County 

Summary of Crime: On 06/26/96, Bethel and his accomplice, fellow gang member Jeremy Chavis, murdered 18-year-old James Reynolds and Reynolds’ 14-year-old girlfriend, Shannon Hawks, in a field in Franklin County. 

9)  1

Bonnell, Melvin Cuyahoga County 

Summary of Crime: On 11/28/87, Bonnell murdered 23-year-old Robert Bunner in his Bridge Avenue apartment in Cleveland. Bonnell entered the apartment without permission, shot Mr. Bunner twice at close range and repeatedly struck him in the face after he had fallen to the floor.

10)    1

Brinkley, Grady Lucas County 

Summary of Crime: On 01/07/00, Brinkley murdered his former girlfriend, 18-year-old Shantae Smith, in her Toledo apartment. While in county jail for the robbery of a local diner, Brinkley learned that Ms. Smith was dating someone else. 

11)  5

Brinkman, Jr., George (1) Cuyahoga County

Summary of Crime: On 06/10/17, Brinkman murdered 45-year-old Suzanne Taylor and her daughters, 21-year-old Taylor Pifer and 18-year-old Kylie Pifer, in their North Royalton home. Brinkman forced Suzanne and her daughters to lie on the bed next to one another at knifepoint and ordered Kylie to tie up Suzanne and Taylor with zip ties. Brinkman stabbed Suzanne several times with the knife and cut her throat. He then smothered Taylor to death with a pillow and strangled Kylie to death with a phone charging cord. Brinkman later confessed to all three murders. (Brickman received the death penalty for all 3 victims.) (Note: Brinkman also received the death penalty from Stark County for the aggravated murders of Rogell and Roberta John.)

Summary of Crime: On 06/11/17, George Brinkman murdered Rogell and Roberta John in their Lake Township home. Brinkman had been dog-sitting for the Johns while they were on vacation. When they returned home, an argument over the care of the dog ensued. Brinkman, armed with Rogell’s gun which Brinkman had earlier retrieved and loaded, ordered the Johns to a bedroom. He then shot Rogell to death before severely beating Roberta and shooting her in the head. Brinkman then stole money before fleeing. 

12)  1

Bryan, Quisi Cuyahoga County 

Summary of Crime: On 06/25/00, Bryan murdered a police officer, 32-year-old Wayne Leon, at a gas station in Cleveland. Officer Leon had stopped Bryan’s car for a traffic violation. When Officer Leon used his radio to check on Bryan’s fictitious license plate, Bryan shot Officer Leon in the face. Kenneth Niedhammer witnessed the shooting and followed Bryan’s car. Bryan stopped his vehicle on two occasions and shot at Mr. Niedhammer. Bryan testified at trial that he shot Officer Leon to prevent him from discovering Bryan’s parole violation for an attempted robbery conviction. (Bryan was also convicted of the attempted murder of Mr. Niedhammer.)

13)  1

Carter, Sean Trumbull County 

Summary of Crime: On 09/14/97, Carter murdered his 68-year-old adoptive grandmother, Veader Prince, at her home in Farmington Township. Upon his release from jail for theft, Ms. Prince refused to allow Carter to live with her. Carter raped, beat and stabbed Ms. Prince 18 times and also stole her money. 

14)   1

Cepec, Steven Medina County 

Summary of Crime: On 06/03/10, Cepec murdered 72-year-old Frank Munz in his Chatham Township home. Cepec had been on parole for prior aggravated burglaries from multiple counties. As a condition of his parole Cepec was to undergo drug treatment. Cepec left the treatment facility without permission the day after he arrived. Cepec entered Mr. Munz’s home armed with duct tape and a realistic-looking pellet gun. He bound Mr. Munz with the duct tape and then beat him in the head with the claw end of a hammer. He then strangled Mr. Munz with an electrical cord from a lamp found in the home. 

15) 1

Chinn, Davel Montgomery County 

Summary of Crime: On 01/30/89, Chinn murdered 21-year-old Brian Jones on Germantown Pike in Jefferson Township. Chinn, and his juvenile accomplice, Marvin Washington, robbed Mr. Jones and his friend, Gary Welborn, in downtown Dayton. Mr. Welborn escaped, but Chinn and Washington were able to kidnap Mr. Jones, driving off with him and his car. A short time later, Chinn ordered Mr. Jones out of the car and shot him in the chest and arm.

16)  3 (4)

Clinton, Curtis Erie County 

Summary of Crime: On 09/08/12, Curtis Clinton murdered 23-year-old Heather Jackson, 3-year-old Celina Jackson, and 18-month-old Wayne Jackson, Jr., in their Sandusky home. Heather was found naked between a mattress and a bed frame. The children were found, clothed, in a utility room closet. All three were strangled. Clinton raped both Heather and Celina. Clinton’s DNA was found on all three victims. The murders occurred seven months after Clinton was released from prison after serving 13 years for involuntary manslaughter in the 1997 killing of 18-year-old Misty Keckler who had also been found naked and strangled to death. (Clinton received the death penalty for all three victims.)

17) 1

Coleman, Timothy Clark County 

Summary of Crime: On 01/02/96, Coleman murdered Melinda Stevens in an alley behind Riddles’ Ribs in Springfield. Ms. Stevens worked as a confidential informant for the Springfield Police, whose controlled purchases of drugs led to Coleman’s indictment for aggravated trafficking of cocaine. While Coleman was out on bond awaiting trial, he shot Ms. Stevens twice in the back of the head to prevent her from testifying against him

18)  1

Coley, Douglas Lucas County 

Summary of Crime: On 01/03/97, Coley and an accomplice, Joseph Green, murdered 21-year-old Samar El-Okdi in an alley behind West Grove Place in Toledo. Coley and Green abducted Ms. El-Okdi, shot her in the head at close range, and stole her car. Coley was also convicted for the attempted murder, robbery, and kidnapping of David Moore for a separate car-jacking incident that occurred days before the murder of Ms. El-Okdi. 

19)  2

Conway, James T. (1) Franklin County

Summary of Crime: On 01/19/02, Conway murdered 25-year-old Jason Gervais and attempted to murder Mandel Williams in the parking lot of Dockside Dolls, a strip club in Columbus. Mr. Gervais was an innocent bystander in a fight between Mr. Williams’ friends and Conway’s friends. After Conway’s brother claimed that he had been stabbed by Mr. Williams, Conway retrieved a gun from the trunk of his car, ran toward Mr. Williams and opened fire. Conway shot Mr. Williams, but Mr. Williams survived. Conway also shot Mr. Gervais four times, once in the back, causing his death. After police arrested Conway several weeks later for an unrelated shooting, he confided in a fellow cellmate that he was unremorseful for shooting Mr. Gervais.

Summary of Crime: In September 2001, Conway murdered 20-year-old Andrew Dotson in Prairie Township. Conway feared Mr. Dotson would inform police about Conway’s involvement in an earlier shooting, so Conway told two friends, Mike Arthurs and Shawn Nightingale, to kill Mr. Dotson. Arthurs and Nightingale could not go through with the murder and brought Mr. Dotson back to Conway. Conway then took Mr. Dotson to a cornfield and stabbed him twice in the chest with a pickax. While later incarcerated, Conway tried to hire a fellow inmate to kill Arthurs. At the time of his trial, Conway was serving a death sentence for an unrelated 2002 murder. (Arthurs and Nightingale also received prison time for their involvement in the murder of Mr. Dotson.)

20)  1

Cook, Derrick Hamilton County

Summary of Crime: On 10/28/89, Cook murdered 68-year-old Frank Shorter in an abandoned building on Seitz Street in Cincinnati. Mr. Shorter was the manager of Sullivan’s Clothing Store in Lockland, Ohio. Cook stole clothing and money from Sullivan’s. He then kidnapped Mr. Shorter, taking him to an abandoned building where he robbed him and shot him in the head at point-blank range. 

21) 2

Cunningham, Jeronique Allen County 

Summary of Crime: On 01/03/02, Cunningham and his half-brother, Cleveland Jackson, murdered 3-year-old Jala Grant and 17-year-old Leneshia Williams at a home in Lima. Jala, Leneshia, and six other people were at the house of a man whom Cunningham and Jackson planned to rob of his crack cocaine and money. After stealing drugs, money, and jewelry, Cunningham and Jackson opened fire on everyone in the house, fatally shooting Jala twice in the head as her father held her in his arms and fatally shooting Leneshia in the back of the head. (Cunningham and Jackson were also convicted for the attempted murders of the survivors, each of whom suffered 

22)  2

Davis, Von Clark Butler County 

Summary of Crime: On 12/12/83, Davis murdered his former girlfriend, 27-year-old Suzette Butler, outside the American Legion Post 520 in Hamilton. Davis shot Ms. Butler in the head at close range and continued to shoot her after she fell to the ground. At the time, Davis was on parole after serving prison time for murdering his wife.

23)  1

Dixon, Archie Lucas County 

Summary of Crime: On 09/22/93, Dixon and his accomplice, Timothy Hoffner, murdered their roommate, 22-year-old Christopher Hammer at a park in Toledo. Dixon and Hoffner planned to kill Mr. Hammer to assume his identity. Dixon and Hoffner repeatedly beat Mr. Hammer, tied him up, took him into the woods, and buried him alive. Dixon and Hoffner stole $11 in cash from Mr. Hammer’s wallet, his driver’s license, his Social Security card, his birth certificate, and his car. Dixon and Hoffner confessed to police, and Hoffner showed police where they buried Mr. Hammer alive. (Hoffner also received a death sentence.)

24)   1

Drain, Joel Warren County 

Summary of Crime: On 04/13/19, Drain, an inmate serving a life sentence for aggravated murder at the Warren Correctional Institution, fatally attacked inmate Christopher Richardson. Drain admitted to initially intending to murder another inmate but then decided to kill Mr. Richardson instead. Drain hit Mr. Richardson with a fan multiple times, attempted to put a pencil in his eye, and attempted to strangle him with a cord. Mr. Richardson died as a result of his injuries two days later. Drain confessed to the murder and pled no contest to the indictment. 

25)  1

Drummond, John E. Mahoning County 

Summary of Crime: On 03/24/03, Drummond murdered 3-month-old Jiyen Dent, Jr., at his home in Youngstown. Drummond incorrectly believed Jiyen’s father was involved in the 1998 murder of one of Drummond’s fellow gang members. Drummond and an accomplice, Wayne Gilliam, drove to the Dent household. Drummond exited the car and fired 11 shots from an AK47 assault rifle into the house, fatally wounding Jiyen in the head. Drummond later confessed to his cell mate that he was the shooter. Gilliam was also sentenced to 54 years in prison for his involvement in the aggravated murder.

26) 1

Elmore, Phillip L. Licking County 

Summary of Crime: On 06/01/02, Elmore murdered his ex-girlfriend and former Licking County deputy sheriff, 47- year-old Pamela Annarino, at her Newark home. While Ms. Annarino was at her son’s wedding, Elmore broke into her home and waited for her. When Ms. Annarino returned home, Elmore strangled her and beat her with a lead pipe. Elmore then stole Ms. Annarino’s purse and fled in her car. In an interview with Newark police, Elmore confessed. 

27)  2

Ford, Jr., Shawn Summit County 

Summary of Crime: On 04/02/13, Shawn Ford, along with his juvenile accomplice Jamal Vaughn, murdered 59-year-old Margaret “Peg” Schobert and 56-year-old Jeffrey Schobert. Ford and Vaughn broke into the Schoberts’ New Franklin home where Ford bludgeoned Mr. Schobert to death with a sledgehammer. Using Mr. Schobert’s cell phone, Ford lured Mrs. Schobert home from the hospital where the Schoberts’ daughter, Chelsea, was recovering after Ford stabbed her in the neck. When Mrs. Schobert returned home, Ford beat her to death with the sledgehammer. Ford murdered the Schoberts because they prevented him from seeing Chelsea. Ford admitted to bludgeoning the Schoberts with the sledgehammer.

28) 3

Franklin, Antonio S. Montgomery County 

Summary of Crime: On 04/18/97, Franklin murdered his grandmother, Ophelia Franklin, his grandfather, Ivory Franklin, Sr., and his uncle, Anthony Franklin, in their Dayton home. Franklin beat his uncle and grandmother with a baseball bat, shot his grandmother in the forehead, beat his grandfather in the head with another object, and set the house on fire. Franklin fled to Tennessee where he was arrested on unrelated charges

29)  2

Froman, Terry Warren County 

Summary of Crime: On September 12, 2014, Froman murdered his ex-girlfriend, 34-year-old Kimberly Thomas, in his SUV on Interstate 75 in Warren County, Ohio. In the early morning hours, Froman went to Thomas’ residence in Mayfield, Kentucky and kidnapped Ms. Thomas after fatally shooting her 17-year-old son, Michael “Eli” Mohney, in the back of the head. Froman drove Ms. Thomas into Ohio, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol attempted to stop his SUV on Interstate 75 in Warren County. As the troopers exited their vehicles, Froman fired his gun, killing Ms. Thomas, and intentionally wounding himself. In addition to the gunshot wounds, one of which was to the back of the head, Froman broke Ms. Thomas’ jaw, knocked out a tooth, punctured a hole in her lip, and inflicted multiple cuts and bruises to her body. (Froman was given life without the possibility of parole in Kentucky for murdering Eli.)

30)   1

Fry, Jr., Clarence Summit County 

Summary of Crime: On 07/31/05, Fry murdered his former girlfriend, 41-year-old Tamela Hardison, in her daughter’s Akron apartment. Fry stabbed Ms. Hardison four times with a butcher knife, in front of her grandchildren, to stop her from testifying against him in a domestic violence case. 

31)  3

Gapen, Larry James Montgomery County 

Summary of Crime: On 09/18/00, Gapen murdered his ex-wife, 37-year-old Martha Madewell, her boyfriend, 40-yearold Nathan Marshall, and her daughter, 13-year-old Jesica Young, in Ms. Madewell’s Dayton home. Gapen, distraught over the recent dissolution of his marriage to Ms. Madewell, entered the house and bludgeoned each victim with a maul (longhandled hammer with a wedge-shaped head used to split logs). Gapen hacked Ms. Madewell 10 times in the face and head. He hacked Mr. Marshall 18 times in the face, head, neck, chest and abdomen and Jesica 32 times in the face, head, neck and chest. Gapen then left the house with Ms. Madewell’s 7-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter. Gapen confessed to police. DNA testing proved that the semen found on Ms. Madewell’s leg and abdomen belonged to Gapen. 

32)  2

Garrett, Kristofer Franklin County 

Summary of Crime: On the morning of 01/05/18, Garrett murdered his ex-girlfriend, 34-year-old Nicole Duckson, and their 4-year-old daughter, Kristina Duckson, in the backyard of Nicole’s Columbus home. Garrett had stabbed Nicole more than 40 times with a hunting knife because he was angry with her about an email she sent indicating he was behind on his child support. Garrett then stabbed Kristina more than 30 times because she had witnessed Garrett murder her mother.

33)  1

Goff, James Clinton County 

Summary of Crime: On 09/15/94, Goff murdered 88-year-old Myrtle Rutledge in her home in Wilmington. Goff, who was employed as a delivery person for Butler Home Furnishings, had been to Ms. Rutledge’s home earlier that day to deliver some furniture. Later that night, Goff returned to Ms. Rutledge’s house to rob her. After finding Ms. Rutledge awake in her bedroom, he beat and stabbed her several times. He then left with her money and car

34)  5

Grate, Shawn Ashland County 

Summary of Crime: Between 08/16/16 and 09/13/16, Grate kidnapped and murdered 29-year-old Elizabeth Griffin and 43-year-old Stacy Hicks (aka Stacey Stanley) in an Ashland County home. Grate admitted to strangling the women to death. Ms. Griffin was found bound in an upstairs bedroom closet under dirty clothes, and Ms. Hicks was found bound in the basement also covered in clothing. Grate confessed to both murders and that he had also videotaped himself raping Ms. Hicks. Grate was also convicted of kidnapping and raping another woman, “Jane Doe,” who managed to escape from the same house where the bodies of Ms. Griffin and Ms. Hicks were found. (Grate received the death penalty for both victims.) (Grate was convicted of the murders of Rebekah Leicy and Candace Cunningham in Richland County, as well as Dana Lowrey in Marion County, but did not receive the death penalty for those victims.) 

35) 1

Group, Scott Mahoning County 

Summary of Crime: On 01/18/97, Group murdered 56-year-old Robert Lozier at the Downtown Bar in Youngstown. Mr. Lozier and his wife, Sandra Lozier, owned the bar. Group, who was a delivery man for Ohio Wine Imports Company, made weekly deliveries to the bar. On the day of the murder, Group went to the bar to review some invoices. He forced Mr. and Mrs. Lozier into the restroom at gunpoint, shot them in the head, and stole between $1,200 and $1,300 cash from the bar. Mrs. Lozier was able to call 911 and testified against Group at trial. 

36) 1

Hale, Delano P. Cuyahoga County 

Summary of Crime: On 06/21/04, Hale murdered 46-year-old Douglas Green at a motel in Euclid. Mr. Green, who was a music producer, came to Hale’s motel room to audition him. Hale shot Mr. Green four times in the head, stole his credit cards and car. Hale used Mr. Green’s credit card to buy cleaning products and garbage bags to clean up the crime scene. He then dragged Mr. Green’s body into an adjoining storage room, threw the gun into the hotel garbage, and disposed of Mr. Green’s clothes. Mr. Green was found naked and wrapped in plastic trash bags by hotel workers two days later. Hale was arrested a week later in Mr. Green’s car

37) 4

Hand, Gerald Delaware County 

Summary of Crime: On 01/15/02, Hand murdered his 58-year-old wife, Jill Hand, and longtime friend, 55-year-old Walter Welch, at Hand’s home in Delaware County. Hand, who was in debt, hired Mr. Welch to kill Jill so that Hand could collect the insurance proceeds from a policy he had purchased in Jill’s name. Hand fatally shot Jill and Mr. Welch. He then tried to make it appear that Mr. Welch killed Jill, and Hand, in return, killed Mr. Welch in an act of self-defense. DNA testing matched bloodstains found on Hand’s clothes to Mr. Welch’s DNA profile. At Hand’s trial, the State presented evidence that Hand was involved in the 1976 and 1979 murders of two of his former wives. (Hand received the death penalty for the murders of both Jill and Mr. Welch.)

38)  1

Hanna, James G. Warren County 

Summary of Crime: On 08/22/97, Hanna attacked his 43-year-old cellmate, Peter Copas, at the Lebanon Correctional Institution. Hanna thrust a sharpened paintbrush into Mr. Copas’ eye and hit him in the head with a padlock placed in a sock. Mr. Copas died as a result of his injuries on 9/10/97.

39) 1 ]

Henderson, Jerome Hamilton County 

Summary of Crime: On 03/03/85, Henderson murdered 26-year-old Mary Acoff in her Cincinnati apartment. Henderson broke into Ms. Acoff’s apartment, attempted to rape her, stabbed and beat her multiple times in the head, chest and neck, and slashed her throat at least 13 times. Ms. Acoff’s nude body was found by her 10-year-old daughter, when she returned home. 

40) 1

Henness, Warren Franklin County 

Summary of Crime: On 03/20/92, Henness murdered 51-year-old Richard Myers in Columbus. Henness knew Mr. Myers because Mr. Myers was helping him seek drug counseling and treatment for Henness’ wife. On the day of the murder, Mr. Myers picked Henness up in his car. Henness shot Mr. Myers five times in the head and stole his car, credit cards and checks. He sold the car and forged the checks and used the money to buy drugs.

41) 1

Hill, Danny Lee Trumbull County 

Summary of Crime: On 09/10/85, Hill and an accomplice, Tim Combs, murdered 12-year-old Raymond Fife in a wooded field in Warren. Raymond was riding his bicycle through the field when Hill and Combs abducted him. Hill and Combs raped Raymond, bit his penis, choked him and burnt his face with lighter fluid. Hill later inquired with police about a $5,000 reward and told them facts that were not disclosed to the public, which eventually led to his confession

42)  1

Hoffner, Timothy Lucas County 

Summary of Crime: On 09/22/93, Hoffner and his accomplice, Archie Dixon, murdered their roommate, 22-year-old Christopher Hammer in a park in Toledo. Hoffner and Dixon planned to kill Mr. Hammer to assume his identity. Hoffner and Dixon repeatedly beat Mr. Hammer, tied him up, took him into the woods and buried him alive. Hoffner and Dixon stole $11 in cash from Mr. Hammer’s wallet, his driver’s license, his Social Security card, his birth certificate and his car. Hoffner and Dixon confessed.

43)  2

Hughbanks, Gary Hamilton County

 Summary of Crime: On 05/13/87, Hughbanks murdered 55-year-old William Leeman and his wife, 53-year-old Juanita Leeman, at their home in Springfield Township. Hughbanks broke into their home to rob them and was still in the house when Mr. and Mrs. Leeman returned home. Hughbanks stabbed Mr. Leeman with a hunting knife about 17 times, repeatedly stabbed Mrs. Leeman and cut both of their throats. The crime was unsolved for 10 years. In 1997, Hughbanks admitted the murders to his family, who told police and turned over the murder weapon. Hughbanks later confessed to police in Tucson, Arizona.

44)  1

Hundley, Lance Mahoning County 

Summary of Crime: On 11/06/15, Hundley murdered 41-year-old Erika Huff in her Youngstown home by beating and strangling her. Ms. Huff, who had a child with Hundley’s brother, had permitted Hundley to stay with her prior to her murder. Because Ms. Huff suffered from multiple sclerosis and was confined to a wheelchair, she wore a medical alert necklace. During her murder, Ms. Huff’s alert necklace was pressed, which contacted paramedics and her mother, Denise Johnson. When paramedics responded Hundley told them Ms. Huff’s alert was pressed accidentally. But when Ms. Johnson arrived, Hundley attacked her with a hammer and stabbed her with a knife. Hundley placed Ms. Johnson with Ms. Huff’s lifeless body in a bedroom, set the room on fire, and then changed his clothes. Police rescued Ms. Johnson from the burning bedroom and located Hundley in the house where he claimed he too was a victim. Police recovered the bag of Hundley’s clothing containing Ms. Johnson’s blood, and Hundley’s DNA was found under Ms. Huff’s fingernails.

45) 1

Hutton, Percy Cuyahoga County 

Summary of Crime: On 09/16/85, Hutton murdered 24-year-old Derek “Ricky” Mitchell in Cleveland. Hutton kidnapped Mr. Mitchell and his friend, Samuel Simmons Jr., at gunpoint while accusing Mr. Mitchell of stealing tires and a sewing machine from him. After recovering the sewing machine, Hutton shot Mr. Simmons twice in the head. Hutton then drove Mr. Simmons to the hospital. Mr. Simmons survived his injuries. Mr. Mitchell was never seen alive again. His body was located two weeks later. He had been shot to death.

46) 2

Jackson, Cleveland R. Allen County 

Summary of Crime: On 01/03/02, Jackson and his half-brother, Jeronique Cunningham, murdered 3-year-old Jala Grant and 17-year-old Leneshia Williams at a home in Lima. Jala, Leneshia, and six other people were at the house of a man whom Cunningham and Jackson planned to rob of his crack cocaine and money. After stealing drugs, money, and jewelry, Cunningham and Jackson opened fire on everyone in the house, fatally shooting Jala twice in the head as her father held her in his arms, and fatally shooting Leneshia in the back of the head. (Cunningham and Jackson were also convicted for the attempted murders of the survivors, each of whom suffered gunshot injuries. Cunningham also received a death sentence.) (After resentencing, Jackson received a death sentence only for Leneshia’s murder and life without parole for Jala’s murder.)

47) 1

Jackson, Jeremiah J. Cuyahoga County 

Summary of Crime: In the early morning of 06/18/09, Jackson murdered 38-year-old Tracy L. Pickryl by shooting her during an aggravated robbery of the Soap Opera Laundry store in Cleveland. Jackson waited until customers left the store before entering, brandishing a firearm and demanding money from Ms. Pickryl and her co-worker, 27-year-old Christy Diaz. When Ms. Pickryl hesitated to comply with Jackson’s demands, he shot her in the head. He then aimed the gun at Ms. Diaz and demanded she retrieve the store’s money. Despite her compliance, Jackson also attempted to shoot Ms. Diaz. The aggravated robbery was part of a crime spree in June 2009 that included robberies in Cuyahoga, Erie, and Lorain counties. (Jackson’s accomplices during the crime spree, Maurice Harrison, James Dixon, and Katrina Dickerson, were also convicted of various charges and received prison sentences.)

48) 1

Jackson, Kareem Franklin County 

Summary of Crime: On 03/25/97, Jackson murdered Antorio Hunter and Terrance Walker at a Lupo Court Apartment. Jackson and Mr. Walker were acquaintances. Jackson and his accomplices, “Little Bee,” Michael Patterson, Derrick Boone and Malaika Williamson, went to the apartment to rob the men. After robbing them of $40, some marijuana and a cellular phone, Jackson shot Mr. Hunter and Mr. Walker in the head because they knew his name. (Jackson received the death penalty for both victims.)

49) 1

Jackson, Nathaniel E. Trumbull County 

Summary of Crime: On 12/11/01, Jackson and his girlfriend, Donna Roberts, murdered Roberts’ former husband, 57- year-old Robert Fingerhut, at the home Roberts shared with Mr. Fingerhut in Howland Township. Roberts let Jackson into her home to wait for Mr. Fingerhut. When Mr. Fingerhut returned home from work, Jackson shot him twice in the back and once in the head, then stole his car. DNA testing on bloodstains found in Mr. Fingerhut’s car matched the profiles of Jackson and Mr. Fingerhut. Jackson admitted the shooting to police, but claimed it was committed in self-defense. (Donna Roberts also received a death sentence for the murder of Robert Fingerhut.

50) 1

Jalowiec, Stanley Lorain County 

Summary of Crime: On 01/19/94, Jalowiec and an accomplice, Raymond Smith, murdered 30-year-old Ronald Lally in a Cleveland cemetery. Mr. Lally was a police informant who was scheduled to testify against Raymond and Danny Smith in a drug trafficking trial. On the morning of the trial, Jalowiec and Smith shot Mr. Lally in the head, cut his throat, stomped on him and ran him over with a car. The defendants bragged about the murder to their friends

51) 1

Jones, Odraye Ashtabula County 

Summary of Crime: On 11/17/97, Jones murdered Ashtabula Police Officer William D. Glover, Jr., in Ashtabula. Officer Glover was shot while responding to a dispatcher’s call that Jones, who had outstanding felony warrants, had been spotted in Ashtabula. Jones fled on foot as Officer Glover approached him and a pursuit commenced. Soon thereafter, Jones pulled a gun from his pocket and fired several shots at Officer Glover. When Officer G

52) 1

Jones, Phillip Summit County 

Summary of Crime: On 04/23/07, Phillip Jones raped and strangled 33-year-old Susan Marie Christian-Yates in Mount Peace Cemetery in Akron. Ms. Christian-Yates’ body was found in front of a gravestone with a plastic cross over her right eye. Jones had given an identical cross to his wife in 2006. Jones admitted to killing Ms. Yates, but claimed it was accidental during consensual sex

53) 2

Kinley, Juan Clark County 

Summary of Crime: On 01/10/89, Kinley murdered his ex-girlfriend, 31-year-old Thelma Miller, and her 12-year-old son, David Miller, at a house where Ms. Miller worked as a housekeeper. Kinley had previously physically abused and threatened to kill Ms. Miller for dating other men. Kinley beat Ms. Miller and David to death by repeatedly hacking them in their heads and bodies with a machete. Kinley admitted the murders to his friend.

 

54)  4

Kirkland, Anthony Hamilton County 

Summary of Crime: On 05/04/06, Kirkland attacked, beat, attempted to rape, robbed, and murdered 14-year-old Casonya Crawford by strangling her. Kirkland then burned Casonya’s body, which authorities recovered in a secluded area with no clothing except one sock. On 03/07/09, Kirkland attacked, beat, attempted to rape, robbed, and murdered 13-yearold Esme Kenney by strangling her. Kirkland then partially burned Esme’s body, which authorities recovered in a secluded area with no clothing except shoes and socks. DNA consistent with Esme’s was found on Kirkland’s hands, genitals, and his boxer shorts. Kirkland confessed to the murders. (Kirkland was also convicted of the two separate murders of 45-yearold Mary Jo Newton and 25-year-old Kimya Rolison; he also burned their bodies.)

55) 2

Knuff, Thomas Cuyahoga County

Summary of Crime: On 05/11/17, Knuff murdered 49-year-old Regina Capobianco and 65-year-old John Mann during an argument inside Mr. Mann’s Parma Heights home. Knuff, having been recently released from prison, moved into Mr. Mann’s home where Ms. Capobianco, Knuff’s former pen-pal, was also residing. During the argument, Knuff stabbed Mr. Mann 15 times, and stabbed Ms. Capobianco 6 times. Knuff then rolled their bodies in blankets, dragged them to a back bedroom, and covered them with garbage bags. He spent several days cleaning the crime scene—scrubbing down the walls and cutting out the living room carpeting. While in jail on other charges, Knuff sent a letter to a friend asking the friend to burn down the house to destroy the evidence, focusing the accelerant in the back bedroom, where the bodies were later located.

56)  6

Lamar, Keith Lawrence County 

Summary of Crime: During the riot at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, Lamar murdered five prison inmates, Darrell Depina, Bruce Vitale, William Svette, Dennis Weaver and Albert Staiano, whom Lamar believed were informants. When prison inmates held prison guards and other inmates hostage, Lamar formed a group of prison inmates, called the “Death Squad,” to kill “snitches.” Between 04/11/93 and 04/21/93, on five separate occasions, Lamar and his followers beat, strangled and stabbed each victim to death. At the time, Lamar was serving a sentence for a 1989 murder conviction. (Lamar received the death sentence for the aggravated murders of Mr. Depina, Mr. Vitale, Mr. Svette, and Mr. Weaver.) 

57) 1

Landrum, Lawrence Ross County 

Summary of Crime: On 09/19/85, Landrum murdered 84-year-old Harold White at his home in Chillicothe. Mr. White had previously shown Landrum his apartment, believing that Landrum wanted to rent it. Mr. White arrived home and caught Landrum and his juvenile accomplice, Grant Swackhammer, stealing money and nerve pills from his apartment. Landrum ordered Swackhammer to hit Mr. White on the head with a large railroad bolt, then Landrum attacked Mr. White and slit his throat with a kitchen knife. Landrum later bragged to several of his friends about the murder, offered to show them Mr. White’s body, and threatened to slit their throats if they told police.

58) 2

Lang, Edward Lee Stark County 

Summary of Crime: On 10/22/06, Lang and his accomplice, Antonio Walker, murdered local drug dealer, Jaron Burditte and his friend Marnell Cheek. Lang contacted Mr. Burditte by cell phone to set up a drug deal while Lang and Walker planned to rob Mr. Burditte at gunpoint. When Mr. Burditte arrived at the agreed upon location, Lang entered the vehicle alone and almost instantaneously shot Mr. Burditte and Ms. Cheek in the head with a 9mm pistol.

59) 4

Lawson, Arron Lawrence County 

Summary of Crime: On 10/11/17, Lawson murdered 24-year-old Stacey Holston, Stacey’s 8-year-old son, Devin Holston, Stacey’s 43-year-old mother, Tammy McGuire, and Stacey’s 50-year-old stepfather, Donald McGuire, and attempted to murder Stacey’s husband, Todd Holston, in the Holstons’ home. On the morning of the murders, Lawson entered the home via a window he previously opened and waited for Todd to go to work and Devin to go to school. Lawson then shot Stacey three times with a shotgun and raped her. Lawson, pretending to be Devin’s father, called the school to have Devin ride the bus home; he waited and killed Devin when he arrived home. Tammy and Donald went to check on Stacey after Todd had not been able to reach her during the day. Lawson shot and killed them both when they entered. Todd arrived and entered the house; Lawson stabbed him several times and then fled in the McGuires’ truck. Todd survived and identified Lawson as his attacker. 

60)  1

Lindsey, Carl Brown County 

Summary of Crime: On 02/10/97, at the request of co-defendant Joy Hoop, Lindsey murdered Joy’s husband, 36-yearold Donald Ray Hoop, in a parking lot outside a Mt. Orab bar. Lindsey shot Mr. Hoop in the face while Mr. Hoop sat in his car. After Mr. Hoop got out of his car, Lindsey shot him again in the forehead and stole $1,257.00 from his wallet. (Joy Hoop was convicted of conspiracy to co

61)  1

Lott, Gregory Cuyahoga County Summary of Crime: Lott murdered 82-year-old John McGrath at his East Cleveland home. On 07/13/86, Lott broke into Mr. McGrath’s home, doused him with flammable lamp oil, set him on fire, ransacked his home and then stole Mr. McGrath’s car. Mr. McGrath died in the hospital on 07/23/86.

62) 4

Loza, Jose Butler County 

Summary of Crime: On 01/16/91, Loza murdered his girlfriend’s mother, 46-year-old Georgia Davis, his girlfriend’s brother, 25-year-old Gary Mullins, and his girlfriend’s sisters, 20-year-old Cheryl Senteno and 17-year-old Jerri Jackson, who was six months pregnant at the time, in their Middletown home. Ms. Davis had threatened to have Loza arrested if he tried to leave Ohio with her daughter (his girlfriend), who was a minor. Loza shot each of the victims in the head at close range while they slept in the house.

63) 1

Mack, Clarence Cuyahoga County 

Summary of Crime: On 01/21/91, Mack murdered 59-year-old Peter Sanelli in a parking lot on Prospect Avenue in Cleveland. Mr. Sanelli was in his car when Mack and two accomplices, Thomas Sowell and Reginald Germany, carjacked Mr. Sanelli. Mack shot through the car window at Mr. Sanelli three times, killing him, and then pulled Mr. Sanelli’s body out of the car.

64) 3

Madison, Michael Cuyahoga County 

Summary of Crime: Between October 2012 and July 2013, Michael Madison murdered three women: 28-year-old Shetisha Sheeley, 38-year-old Angela Deskins, and 18-year-old Shirellda Terry. Madison lured each victim to his apartment in East Cleveland, strangled them to death, and wrapped their bodies in multiple layers of garbage bags before disposing of them near his apartment. Madison later confessed to killing Ms. Sheeley and to moving Ms. Terry’s body out of his apartment. (Madison received the death penalty for all three victims.)

65) 3

Mammone III, James Stark County 

Summary of Crime: On 06/08/09, Mammone murdered his two children, 5-year-old Macy Mammone and 3-year-old James Mammone IV, by stabbing the children as they were strapped in the car seats of Mammone’s vehicle. Mammone then went to the home of his ex-wife’s parents, where he murdered his ex-mother-in-law, 57-year-old Margaret J. Eakin, by shooting and brutally beating her. Mammone proceeded to his ex-wife’s home and forcefully entered with the intent of breaking both her ankles and rendering her barren using an axe handle with several protruding nails in one end. After learning his ex-wife was not alone, Mammone left the home and set fire to her companion’s truck with the use of an accelerant. Mammone then drove around with his deceased children in his vehicle before being apprehended hours later. Mammone confessed to police.

66)  1

Martin, David Trumbull County 

Summary of Crime: On 09/27/12, Martin murdered 21-year-old Jeremy Cole and attempted to murder 30-year-old Melissa Putnam in Putnam’s Warren, Ohio home. Martin stole Mr. Cole’s cell phone, restrained him, and then shot him between the eyes at close range. Then in another room, Martin shot Ms. Putnam, but somehow she was able to shield her head; the bullet passed through her hand and lodged in the back of her head. Martin confessed to committing these crimes.

67)  1

Maxwell, Charles Cuyahoga County

Summary of Crime: On 11/27/05, Maxwell murdered his ex-girlfriend, 36-year-old Nichole McCorkle, in Cleveland. Four days before the murder Ms. McCorkle had testified before the grand jury that Maxwell had beat her, resulting in hospitalization. Initially Maxwell argued with, and then shot at, Ms. McCorkle’s sister who was trying to protect Ms. McCorkle, but she was able to escape unharmed. In retaliation for the testimony, Maxwell then shot Ms. McCorkle twice as their 3-year-old daughter watched.

68) 2

McAlpin, Joseph Cuyahoga County 

Summary of Crime: On 04/14/17, McAlpin murdered 50-year-old Michael Kuznik and his wife, 46-year-old Trina Tomola-Kuznik. McAlpin entered the Kuzniks’ Cleveland-area used car dealership, Mr. Cars II, where he shot Michael twice in the head before shooting Trina in the back of the head as she attempted to run away; he also killed the couple’s dog. McAlpin then stole money from Michael’s back pockets, ransacked the business, rendezvoused with his accomplices, Jerome Diggs and Andrew Keener, stole two used cars from the lot, and drove away. McAlpin’s DNA was on Michael’s body, elsewhere inside the business, and in one of the stolen cars. 

69)  2

McKelton, Calvin S. Butler County 

Summary of Crime: On 02/27/09, McKelton murdered 27-year-old Germaine Lamar Evans. In 2008, McKelton and Mr. Evans were at the home of Attorney Margaret “Missy” Allen in Fairfield. McKelton and Ms. Allen, who were in an on-again/offagain relationship, had an argument and McKelton strangled Ms. Allen. Mr. Evans was present at the time and drove with McKelton to Cincinnati, where they dumped Ms. Allen’s body. Police learned Mr. Evans may have witnessed Ms. Allen’s homicide and attempted to contact him. Within days of these attempts, McKelton fatally shot Mr. Evans in the back of the head to prevent him from testifying as a witness against McKelton in Ms. Allen’s homicide. McKelton’s DNA was located on a cigarette butt and on the garage door both at Ms. Allen’s home. 

70)  2

McKnight, Gregory Vinton County 

Summary of Crime: On 11/03/00, McKnight murdered 20-year-old Emily Murray near his trailer home in Ray. Ms. Murray worked with McKnight at a restaurant near Kenyon College, where she was a student. McKnight kidnapped Ms. Murray, shot her in the head, and wrapped her body inside a roll of carpet. McKnight was also convicted and received a life sentence for murdering his friend, 20-year-old Gregory Julious, whose skeletal remains were found in several locations around the trailer. 

71) 1

McNeill, Freddie Lorain County 

Summary of Crime: On 05/13/94, McNeill murdered 30-year-old Blake Fulton in Lorain. Mr. Fulton and an associate attempted to purchase drugs from McNeill. McNeill demanded money without producing the drugs. When Mr. Fulton refused to comply, McNeill shot him in the head.

72)  3

Monroe, Jonathon D. Franklin County 

Summary of Crime: On 04/17/96, Monroe murdered 31-year-old Travinna Simmons and 33-year-old Deccarla Quincy in Quincy’s Columbus apartment. Monroe and an accomplice, Shannon Boyd, believed that Ms. Simmons and Ms. Quincy had access to large amounts of drugs and money. Monroe forced Boyd to bind the women. Monroe then stabbed and shot each of the women in the head. At the time of his trial, Monroe was already serving a life sentence for an unrelated 1999 murder conviction.

73) 1

Moore, Lee Hamilton County 

Summary of Crime: On 01/14/94, Moore murdered 53-year-old Melvin Olinger in Cincinnati. Mr. Olinger was a Chicago businessman, visiting Ohio to see his parents and to attend a friend’s funeral. Moore and an accomplice abducted Mr. Olinger at gunpoint, forced him into the trunk of his car and drove to a factory area. Moore ordered Mr. Olinger out of the trunk, robbed him of his wallet and shot him in the head at close range.

74)  5

Moreland, Samuel Montgomery County 

Summary of Crime: On 11/01/85, Moreland murdered his girlfriend, 46-year-old Glenna Green, her daughter, 23-yearold Lana Green, and her grandchildren, 7-year-old Daytrin Talbott, 6-year-old Datwan Talbott and 6-year-old Violana Green, in their Dayton home. Angry because Glenna would not give him money to buy beer, Moreland shot Glenna, Lana and Violana in their heads and pistol-whipped Daytrin and Datwan to death. Moreland was also convicted of attempted murder for shooting and pistol-whipping Glenna’s other three grandchildren who were also in the house.

75)  1

Mundt, Frederick Noble County 

Summary of Crime: On 03/09/04, Mundt murdered his girlfriend’s daughter, 7-year-old Brittany Hendrickson, in a well in Noble County. Brittany had been living with Mundt in his home in Lebanon for the past five years, along with her mother and siblings. When Mundt was babysitting 7 year old Brittany, he raped Brittany, beat her about the head, face and body with rocks and concrete and drowned her in a covered well. DNA testing identified Mundt as the source of semen found in Brittany’s vagina and panties. Mundt confessed his involvement to his psychologist and mitigation specialist before trial.

76)  1

Myers, Austin Warren County 

Summary of Crime: On 01/28/14, Myers and co-defendant Timothy Mosley murdered 18-year-old Justin Back, a childhood friend of Myers, in his Wayne Township home. Myers and Mosley conspired to rob and murder Mr. Back, purchasing wire, ammonia, latex gloves, and septic tank enzymes. The pair went to Mr. Back’s home where Mosley unsuccessfully attempted to strangle Mr. Back; he instead repeatedly stabbed him to death while Myers restrained him. After stealing multiple items from the house, including a handgun, the pair cleaned the crime scene and placed Mr. Back’s body in the trunk of Mosley’s car. They disposed of Mr. Back’s body in a neighboring county after shooting him with the stolen handgun and pouring the septic tank enzymes on him to further decomposition. 

77)   1

Myers, David Greene County 

Summary of Crime: On 08/04/88, Myers murdered 18-year-old Amanda Maher on a segment of railroad tracks in Xenia. Ms. Maher had met Myers at a bar, and Myers agreed to take her home. Myers robbed Ms. Maher, sexually assaulted her, and drove a railroad spike through her head. While awaiting trial, Myers bragged to a fellow jail inmate about how he murdered Ms. Maher.

78)  2

Neyland, Calvin Wood County 

Summary of Crime: On 08/08/07, Neyland shot and killed his boss, 44-year-old Douglas Smith, multiple times in the head and chest in Perrysburg. Mr. Smith had just fired Neyland.  Neyland proceeded to the parking lot where he then shot and killed former trooper, 58-year-old Thomas Lazer, who had been dispatched to the scene. 

79)  2

Nicholson, Matthew Cuyahoga County 

Summary of Crime: On 09/05/18, Nicholson murdered 17-year-old Manuel Lopez and 19-year-old Giselle Lopez, the children of his girlfriend, America Polanco, in the yard of their Garfield Heights home. Nicholson, who had a history of domestic violence, attacked Polanco in their bedroom and choked her. When Manuel came to the bedroom door to ask what was going on, Nicholson attacked him as well. Nicholson then retrieved the handgun he kept under the mattress, followed Manuel and Giselle outside, and shot both of them repeatedly in the back as they attempted to run away. Nicholson shot Manuel eight times and Giselle five times. (Nicholson received the death penalty for both victims).

80)  2

Noling, Tyrone L. Portage County 

Summary of Crime: On 04/05/90, Noling murdered an 81-year-old couple, Bearnhardt and Cora Hartig, at their home in Atwater Township. The Hartigs were the target of a plan between Noling and his accomplice, Gary St. Clair, to rob elderly people. When Mrs. Hartig opened the door, Noling and St. Clair pushed their way into the house and robbed them. During the robbery, Noling shot Mr. and Mrs. Hartig multiple times at close range.

81) 2

Obermiller, Denny Cuyahoga County 

Summary of Crime: On 08/11/10, Denny Obermiller murdered his grandmother, Candace Schneider, age 61, and her husband, 60-year-old Donald Schneider, in their Maple Heights home. The couple was found in separate rooms in the house, handcuffed and strangled. Obermiller raped Mrs. Schneider and strangled her with an electrical cord. The Schneiders suspected Obermiller had stolen from them while they were on vacation, and they had reported their suspicions to police prior to the murders. 

82)  1

O’Neal, James Derrick Hamilton County 

Summary of Crime: On 12/11/93, O’Neal murdered his estranged wife, 31-year-old Carol Ann O’Neal, at her home in Cincinnati. Ms. O’Neal had filed for a protection order against O’Neal, who had brutally beaten her before moving out of their home. O’Neal kicked in the front door and chased Ms. O’Neal upstairs. When Ms. O’Neal closed a bedroom door to keep O’Neal out, O’Neal shot through the door, entered the room and shot Ms. O’Neal, who had fallen to the floor.

83)    1

Osie, Gregory Butler County 

Summary of Crime: In the early morning of 02/14/09, Osie murdered 53-year-old David Williams in Liberty Township. Osie entered Mr. Williams’ home and attempted to persuade Mr. Williams not to testify in a criminal proceeding against him or his girlfriend. When Osie’s attempted coercion did not work, Osie became enraged and assaulted, and eventually killed, Mr. Williams. Osie stabbed Mr. Williams with a knife several times in addition to slashing Mr. Williams’ throat before Mr. Williams succumbed. Osie then informed his girlfriend that her troubles were over and that the voice of the witness against her had been silenced. 

84)   1

Perez, Kerry D. Clark County 

Summary of Crime: On 03/06/03, Perez murdered 43-year-old Ronald Johnson during an attempted robbery of the Do Drop Inn Bar in Clark County. Perez shot Mr. Johnson in the back. Perez and an accomplice pulled a series of liquor establishment robberies, one of which involved the attempted murder of another individual on 06/22/02. 

85) 3

Pickens, Mark Hamilton County 

Summary of Crime: On or around 06/02/09, Pickens murdered 19-year-old Noelle Washington to prevent her from pursuing charges against Pickens for a rape that occurred days prior. The murder occurred at Ms. Washington’s apartment in Cincinnati at a time when Ms. Washington was with her 9-month-old child, Anthony Jones III, and was babysitting 3- year-old Sha’Railyn Wright. Pickens shot and killed Ms. Washington as well as both children.

86)  4

Powell, Wayne Lucas County 

Summary of Crime: On 11/11/06, Powell murdered his ex-girlfriend, 33-year-old Mary McCollum, her mother 52-yearold Rose McCollum, her son 4-year-old Jamal McCollum-Myers, and her niece 2-year-old Sanaa Thomas in Toledo. The night before, Powell and Mary had been arguing. Powell then set fire to the McCollum house leaving the victims to burn to death.

87) 1

Raglin, Walter Hamilton County 

Summary of Crime: On 12/29/95, Raglin murdered 41-year-old Michael Bany in a Cincinnati parking lot. Mr. Bany was the target of a plan between Raglin and his accomplice, Darnell Lowery, to rob a vulnerable victim. When Mr. Bany, carrying musical equipment, tried to unlock his car door, Raglin approached Mr. Bany and demanded money. Mr. Bany handed Raglin $60, but as Mr. Bany turned to face Raglin, Raglin shot him in the neck. 

88)  3

Robb, Jason Franklin County 

Summary of Crime: During the riot at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, Robb murdered 40-year-old prison guard Robert Vallandingham and prison inmate 31-year-old David Sommers. Robb, the leader of the prison’s Aryan Brotherhood, along with other prison inmates, held prison guards and inmates hostage. On 04/15/93, Robb, Carlos Sanders (the leader of the prison’s Muslim group) and inmate James Were ordered inmates to strangle Mr. Vallandingham to death. On 04/21/93, Robb arranged for inmates to stab, choke and beat Mr. Sommers to death. At the time, Robb was serving a sentence for voluntary manslaughter. (Sanders, Were and George Skatzes also received death sentences arising from the riot.) 

89)  1

Roberts, Donna Marie Trumbull County 

Summary of Crime: On 12/11/01, Roberts and her boyfriend, Nathaniel Jackson, murdered her former husband, 57- year-old Robert Fingerhut, at the home Roberts and Mr. Fingerhut shared in Howland Township. Roberts gave Jackson entry into her home where he shot Mr. Fingerhut twice in the back and once in the head. Roberts and Jackson had planned the murder for months prior to Jackson’s release from prison. (Jackson also received a death sentence for the murder of Mr. Fingerhut.)

90)  1

Rojas, Martin J. Hamilton County 

Summary of Crime: On 05/14/87, Rojas murdered his fellow church member, 28-year-old Rebecca Scott, in her Cincinnati apartment. Ms. Scott had devoted herself to weaning Rojas from drugs and alcohol, but she rejected his advances to be his girlfriend. Rojas hid outside Ms. Scott’s apartment, dragged her by the hair inside the apartment when she arrived home and stabbed her twice in the back. After stabbing her in the back, Rojas raped Ms. Scott twice, stabbed her in the chest, stole $25 from her purse and left her to bleed to death after unsuccessfully trying to set the house on fire.

91)  1

Sanders, Carlos Hamilton County 

Summary of Crime: During the riot at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, Sanders murdered prison guard, 40-yearold Robert Vallandingham. Sanders was the leader of the Muslims at the prison, who along with other prison inmates, held prison guards and inmates hostage. On 04/15/93, Sanders, Jason Robb (the leader of the prison’s Aryan Brotherhood), and inmate James Were, ordered inmates to strangle Mr. Vallandingham to death. At the time, Sanders was serving a sentence for aggravated robbery. 

92)  3

Sapp, William K. Clark County 

Summary of Crime: On 08/22/92, Sapp murdered 11-year-old Martha Leach and 12-year-old Phree Morrow near downtown Springfield. Sapp raped Martha and Phree and then beat them to death. Sapp was connected to the rapes and murders through DNA testing in 1996. Between 1993 and 1995, Sapp murdered 31-year-old Belinda Anderson and buried her body in a garage floor. Sapp was also convicted for the 1993 attempted murder of Hazel Pearson. Sapp confessed to the crimes against Martha, Phree, Ms. Anderson and Ms. Pearson. At the time of his trial in 1997, Sapp was serving a prison sentence for assaulting and attempting to rape another Springfield woman in 1993. 

93)   2

Scott, Michael Dean Stark County 

Summary of Crime: On 09/12/99, Scott murdered 21-year-old Ryan Stoffer in Jackson Township. Mr. Stoffer was teaching Scott and his girlfriend how to drive a stick-shift, thinking that the couple wanted to buy his car. Scott shot Mr. Stoffer six times in the back of the head, dumped his body in the woods and stole his car. Earlier, on 08/24/99, Scott murdered 19-year-old Dallas Green, by shooting him when Scott thought that Mr. Green had insulted him.

94) 2

Short, Duane Allen Montgomery County 

Summary of Crime: On 07/22/04, Short murdered his estranged wife, 31-year-old Rhonda Michelle Short, and her friend, 32-year-old Donnie Ray Sweeney, at Rhonda’s residence in Huber Heights. Short shot Mr. Sweeney with a sawed-off shotgun in the yard, then went inside the house and shot Rhonda.

95)   4

Singh, Gurpreet Butler County 

Summary of Crime: On 04/28/19, Gurpreet Singh murdered his wife, 38-year-old Shalinderjit Kaur; her parents, 58- year-old Hakiakat Pannag and 61-year-old Parmjit Kaur; and her aunt, 57-year-old Amarjit Kaur who was visiting from India, in their West Chester, Ohio apartment. Having made arrangements for his children to be elsewhere for the night, Singh returned home from work, shot each victim multiple times in the head, disposed of the gun in a retaining pond, and then made a staged 911 call. Singh was found covered in the victims’ blood and was also found to have gunshot residue on both of his hands. The investigation revealed Singh had been carrying on a years-long extramarital affair with a younger woman in Indianapolis and was also under increasing financial stress. 

96)  4

Skatzes, George Montgomery County 

Summary of Crime: During the riot at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, Skatzes and other inmates murdered 40- year-old prison guard Robert Vallandingham, and two inmates, 31-year-old David Sommers and 41-year-old Earl Elder. Skatzes, a member of the Aryan Brotherhood, along with other prison inmates, held prison guards and inmates hostage. On 04/15/93, Muslim inmates strangled Mr. Vallandingham to death. Skatzes directed another inmate to stab Mr. Elder numerous times. On 04/21/93, Skatzes beat Mr. Sommers to death. Skatzes received a death sentence for the aggravated murders of Mr. Sommers and Mr. Elder. At the time, Skatzes was serving a life sentence for a 1983 aggravated murder. 

97)   2

Smith, Kenneth W. Butler County 

Summary of Crime: On 05/12/95, Smith murdered 58-year-old Lewis Ray and 54-year-old Ruth Ray in their Hamilton home. Mr. Ray had previously lent Smith $2,500, which Smith had not repaid. Smith struck Mr. Ray in the face with a hammer, slit his throat and signaled to his brother, Randy Smith, to choke Mrs. Ray to death. Then Smith and his brother stole jewelry and money from the house. Smith confessed to police after bragging to his friend about the murder and showing him the stolen jewelry.

98)  2, another paralyzed for life

Spaulding, Dawud Summit County 

Summary of Crime: On 12/15/11, Dawud Spaulding murdered his estranged girlfriend and mother of two of his children, 28-year-old Erica Singleton and her new boyfriend, 31-year-old Ernest Thomas at Mr. Thomas’ Akron home. Looking for Ms. Singleton, Spaulding went to Mr. Thomas’ house where he encountered Mr. Thomas’ nephew, 24-year-old Patrick Griffin, and shot him in the back, severing his spine and leaving him paralyzed. Several hours later, Spaulding returned to the home and shot Ms. Singleton and Mr. Thomas in the back of their heads. Ms. Singleton had a protection order against Spaulding at the time of her murder.

99)  1

Stojetz, John Madison County 

Summary of Crime: On 04/25/96, Stojetz murdered 17-year-old Damico Watkins at Madison Correctional Institution. Mr. Watkins was a black juvenile inmate, and Stojetz was an adult inmate and head of the Aryan Brotherhood whose members refused to be housed in the same cells as black inmates. Stojetz and five other adult inmates, all followers of the Aryan Brotherhood, attacked Mr. Watkins and repeatedly stabbed him with shanks (homemade knives). When Mr. Watkins escaped his attackers and pled for his life, Stojetz cornered him and stabbed him to death

100)  1

Stumpf, John David Guernsey County 

Summary of Crime: On 05/13/84, Stumpf murdered 54-year-old Mary Jane Stout and attempted to murder Norman Stout in their home adjacent to I-70 and County Road 44. The Stouts had invited Stumpf and his accomplice, Clyde Wesley, into their home to use the telephone. While Wesley ransacked the house, Stumpf shot Mr. Stout twice in the head, seriously wounding him. Stumpf then turned to Mrs. Stout, who had witnessed her husband’s shooting, and fatally shot her four times.

101)   1

Tench, James Medina County 

Summary of Crime: On 11/12/13, Tench murdered his 55-year-old mother, Mary Tench, to prevent her from telling the police Tench had been forging her checks and fraudulently using her credit cards. Tench kidnapped Mary from the Medina home they shared, using tape, a tarp and gloves he had previously purchased. Mary’s body was later discovered with duct tape around her neck inside her SUV which had been abandoned in a field near her home. Her purse was located in a nearby retention pond. Evidence showed Tench ran Mary over with her SUV, and that she was alive for at least 20 minutes following her attack. After killing his mother, Tench used her credit card to purchase shampoo and body wash.

102) 1

Thompson, Ashford L. Summit County 

Summary of Crime: On 07/13/08, Thompson murdered 33-year-old Joshua Miktarian, a police officer for the City of Twinsburg. Officer Miktarian made a traffic stop of Thompson’s vehicle and a struggle ensued. Thompson pulled a gun from his pocket and fired five to six shots at Officer Miktarian. Four of those bullets struck Officer Miktarian in the head.

103)  3

Trimble, James E. Portage County 

Summary of Crime: On 01/21/05, Trimble murdered his live-in girlfriend, Renee Bauer, and her 7-year-old son, Dakota Bauer, after she threatened to leave him. Trimble fired 13 rounds from his assault rifle into Renee with several others passing through her body and striking her son, Dakota. The next morning, Trimble shot and killed 23-year-old Sarah Positano, a college student from Ontario, Canada, while he held her hostage inside her Kent State University apartment. 

104)   1

Twyford III, Raymond Jefferson County 

Summary of Crime: On 09/22/92, Twyford and his accomplice, Daniel Eikelberry, murdered 37-year-old Richard Franks. The daughter of Twyford’s girlfriend had told Twyford that she was raped by Mr. Franks, who Twyford then planned to kill. Twyford and Eikelberry lured Mr. Franks to a remote location on the pretense that they were going deer hunting. Twyford shot Mr. Franks in the back, then Twyford and Eikelberry repeatedly shot Mr. Franks in the head, cut his hands off and stole his wallet. 

105)  1

Were, James Hamilton County 

Summary of Crime: During the riot at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, Were murdered Robert Vallandingham, a prison guard. Were was an inmate, who along with other prison inmates, held prison guards and inmates hostage. On 04/15/93, Were, Jason Robb, who was the leader of the prison’s Aryan Brotherhood, and Carlos Sanders, who was the leader of the prison’s Muslim group, ordered inmates to strangle Mr. Vallandingham to death with a cord and baseball bat. 

106)  1

Wesson, Hersie R. Summit County 

Summary of Crime: On 02/25/08, Wesson murdered 81-year-old Emil Varhola and attempted to murder 77-year-old Mary Varhola in their Akron home. Wesson went to the Varhola home to steal a gun so he could shoot his girlfriend who had just broken up with him. Wesson stabbed Mr. Varhola five times. Wesson stabbed Mrs. Varhola multiple times; she survived by pretending to be dead.

107) 1

Whitaker, Christopher Cuyahoga County 

Summary of Crime: On 01/26/17, Whitaker kidnapped, raped and murdered 14-year-old Alianna DeFreeze. Video surveillance showed Whitaker approaching Alianna and then leading her across a field towards the house in which her body was located three days later. Police located Alianna’s mostly nude body in a room of the house, but her clothing and a condom wrapper were found in another room. DNA evidence found inside her body matched Whitaker, and Alianna’s DNA was found on tools and other items seized from the home, including a drill, screwdriver, knives, a hammer, and a nut driver. 

108)  1

Wilks, Jr., Willie Gene Mahoning County 

Summary of Crime: On 05/21/13, Wilks murdered 20-year-old Orora Wilkins on a porch of a Youngstown, Ohio home. Wilks was dating Ms. Wilkins’ mother. Earlier in the day, Wilks had argued with Ms. Wilkins’ brother, William, over the telephone. Wilks then arrived at the home of Mr. Wilkins’ girlfriend where Mr. Wilkins, Ms. Wilkins, and Alex Morales were visiting. Wilks shot Ms. Wilkins in the head with an AK-47 and shot Mr. Morales in the back as he was attempting to flee with a 5-month-old child in his arms; the child was unharmed. Wilks then shot at, but missed, Mr. Wilkins who was looking out an upstairs bedroom window. 

109)  1

Williams, Andre Trumbull County Summary of Crime: On 08/15/88, Williams and an accomplice, Christopher Daniel, murdered 65-year-old George Melnick and attempted to murder Katherine Melnick in their Warren home. After forcing their way into the house, Williams and Daniel beat the Melnicks with a brick, an ax handle and a lamp, killing Mr. Melnick and severely injuring Mrs. Melnick. Williams also attempted to rape Mrs. Melnick. Williams and Daniel bragged to several friends about beating and robbing the elderly couple, and Williams even demonstrated what he had done

110)  1

Williams, Clifford Butler County 

Summary of Crime: On 08/03/90, Williams murdered 39-year-old Wayman Hamilton in downtown Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton was a cab driver who had picked up Williams. Williams shot Mr. Hamilton in the forehead and stole his money. Three days later, Williams robbed and shot another man who had picked up Williams while he was hitchhiking, but the man survived.

111)   1

Williams, Jr., Robert Lucas County 

Summary of Crime: On 02/18/99, Williams murdered 88-year-old Velma MacDowell in her Toledo apartment. Ms. MacDowell lived in the same apartment building as Williams’ friend’s mother. Williams broke into Ms. MacDowell’s home, stuffed a rag in her mouth, raped her, beat her in the face, strangled her to death with a pair of her pantyhose and stole $300 from her purse.

112)  1

Wogenstahl, Jeffrey Hamilton County 

Summary of Crime: On 11/24/91, Wogenstahl murdered 10-year-old Amber Garrett of Harrison, Ohio. Amber was the daughter of Wogenstahl’s friend. Wogenstahl kidnapped Amber as she slept in her bed, stabbed her 11 times in the chest and neck, beat her with a car jack handle, and dumped her body in a heavily wooded area in West Harrison, Indiana. Wogenstahl admitted to a fellow inmate that he had kidnapped Amber to rape her. DNA testing, conducted during federal appeals in 2001, identified Amber as the source of blood in Wogenstahl’s car

113)    1

Worley, James Fulton County 

Summary of Crime: On 07/19/16, Worley kidnapped and murdered 20-year-old Sierah Joughin while she was out riding her bicycle in rural Fulton County. On the side of the road, investigators found blood matching Joughin’s DNA on cornstalks, items belonging to Worley, and tire tracks in the cornfield which matched Worley’s truck. Ms. Joughin’s body was found buried in a cornfield gagged with a modified dog toy, bound with rope, handcuffed, and dressed in clothing similar to items found in Worley’s barn. Ms. Joughin’s DNA was also located on several other items located in Worley’s barn which housed a mattress and additional restraints.