CATHOLIC CONFERENCE OF OHIO
COMMUTATION REQUESTS
Society has a duty to defend life against violence and to reach out to victims of crime. Yet our nation’s increasing reliance on the death penalty cannot be justified. Because we have other ways to protect society that are more respectful of human life, the Catholic church supports efforts to end the use of the death penalty and, in the meantime, to restrain its use through broader use of DNA evidence, access to effective counsel, and efforts to address unfairness and injustice related to application of the death penalty.
The Catholic Conference of Ohio has sent letters and/or made personal contact with the Governor of Ohio and/or his staff seeking commutations prior to each pending execution in Ohio. Most often, the Conference has urged that the death sentence be commuted to life without parole. At other times, careful review of innocence claims has been encouraged.
February 19, 1999: Wilford Berry is executed by lethal injection for the death of Charles Mitroff, Cleveland, Ohio. (VOLUNTEER)
Archbishop Pilarczyk and Bishop Griffin met personally with Governor Taft asking for mercy.
June 14, 2001: Jay D Scott is executed by lethal injection for the death of Vinnie Prince, Cleveland, Ohio.
Catholic Bishops of Ohio letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy regarding Jay Scott.
February 19, 2002: John Byrd Jr. is executed for the death of Monte Tewksbury, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Many questions were raised regarding whether Mr. Byrd was the actual killer.
Catholic Bishops of Ohio letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy for Mr. Byrd.
April 26, 2002: Alton Coleman is executed regarding the deaths of Tonnie Storey, Cincinnati, Ohio, Marlene Walters, Norwood, Ohio, Vernita Wheat, Chicago, Illinois, and Tamika Turks, Gary, Indiana.
Catholic Conference staff talked personally with Attorney General Petro and Governor Taft's Chief Legal Counsel, Judith French, seeking mercy for Mr. Coleman.
Sept. 25, 2002: Robert Buell is executed for the death of Krista Lee Harrison, Marshallville, Ohio.
Catholic Conference staff talked personally with Attorney General Petro and Governor Taft's Chief Legal Counsel, Judith French, seeking mercy for Mr. Buell.
February 12, 2003: Richard Fox is executed for the death of Leslie Keckler, Bowling Green, Ohio.
Catholic Conference staff talked personally with Attorney General Petro and Governor Taft's Chief Legal Counsel, Judith French, seeking mercy for Mr. Fox.
April 29, 2003: David Brewer is executed for the death of Sherry Byrne, Beavercreek, Ohio.
Catholic Conference staff talked personally with Attorney General Petro and Governor Taft's Chief Legal Counsel, Judith French, seeking mercy for Mr. Brewer.
June 18, 2003: Ernest Martin is executed for the death of Robert Robinson, Cleveland, Ohio
Catholic Conference staff talked personally with Attorney General Petro and Governor Taft's Chief Legal Counsel, Judith French, seeking mercy for Mr. Brewer.
June 26, 2003: Governor Taft commutes Jerome Campbell to Life Without Parole. Campbell was scheduled to be executed on June 27th for a 1988 murder in Cincinnati. The clemency follows the recommendation of the state's Parole Board, which voted 6-2 in favor of clemency. Defense attorneys maintain that Campbell should be retried because a DNA test he requested from the state showed that blood on his gym shoes introduced as trial evidence was Campbell's own blood, not the victim's. In its recommendation, the Parole Board noted that jurors may have spared Campbell's life during his initial trial had they had the opportunity to consider the DNA information.
Catholic Conference staff talked personally with Attorney General Petro and Governor Taft's Chief Legal Counsel, Judith French, seeking mercy for Mr. Campbell.
January 14, 2004 : Lewis Williams Jr. is executed for the death of Leoma Chmielewski, Cleveland, Ohio.
Catholic Conference staff talked personally with Attorney General Petro and Governor Taft's Chief Legal Counsel, Judith French, seeking mercy for Mr. Williams.
February 3, 2004: John Glenn Roe is executed for the death of Donette Crawford, Columbus, Ohio.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy for Mr. Roe.
March 30, 2004: William Wickline is executed regarding the deaths of Christopher and Peggy Lerch, Columbus, Ohio
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy for Mr. Wickline
June 8, 2004: William Zuern is executed for the death of Phillip Pence, Hamilton County
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy for Mr. Zuern.
July 14, 2004: Stephen Vrabel is executed for the deaths of Susan and Lisa Clemente, Struthers, Ohio. (VOLUNTEER)
Catholic Bishops of Ohio letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy for Mr. Vrable.
July 20, 2004: Scott Mink is executed for the deaths of William and Sheila Mink, Union, Ohio. (VOLUNTEER)
Catholic Bishops of Ohio letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy for Mr. Mink.
October 13, 2004: Adremy Dennis is executed for the death of Kurt Kyle, Akron, Ohio.
Catholic Bishops of Ohio letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy for Mr. Dennis
March 8, 2005: William Smith is executed for the death of Mary Bradford, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy for Mr. Smith.
September 27, 2005: Herman Ashworth is executed for the death of Daniel Baker, Newark, Ohio. (VOLUNTEER)
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy for Mr. Ashworth
October 25, 2005: Willie Williams is executed for the deaths of William Dent, Eric Howard, Alfonda Madison and Theodore Wynn, Youngstown Ohio.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy for Mr. Williams
November 29, 2005: John R. Hicks is executed for the death of Brandy Greene, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy for Mr. Hicks
February 7, 2006: Glenn L. Benner is executed for the deaths of Cynthia Sedgwich and Trina Bowser, Summit County.
Catholic Bishops of Ohio letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy for Mr. Benner.
May 2, 2006: Joseph L. Clark is executed for the death of David Manning, Lucas County. The execution is botched, taking 86 minutes to conclude.
Press release from Ohioans to Stop Executions decrying the execution procedures.
July 12, 2006: Rocky Barton is executed for the death of Kimbirli Jo Barton, Warren County (VOLUNTEER)
Catholic Bishops of Ohio letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy for Mr. Barton.
August 8, 2006: Darrell Ferguson is executed for the deaths of Thomas King, Arlie Fugate, and Mae Fugate, Montgomery CountyCatholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy for Mr. Ferguson
October 24, 2006: Jeffrey Lundgren is executed for the deaths of Dennis, Cheryl, Trina and Karen Avery, Kirtland, Ohio
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy for Mr. Lundgren
April 24, 2007: James Filliggi is executed for the death of Lisa Huff Fillaggi, Lorain County (VOLUNTEER)
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Filliggi
May 25, 2007: Christopher Newton is executed for the death of Jason Brewer, Richland County. It takes over 90 minutes to find a vein. It appears he suffocated to death. (VOLUNTEER)
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Newton.
January 7, 2008: Kenneth Richey is released from death row. In August 2007, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a new trial. Prior to this trial, Richey pleaded 'no contest' to involuntary manslaughter, child endangering and breaking and entering. The charges of arson and murder were dropped, and Richey was released after being sentenced to time served. Part of the agreement was that Richey immediately leave the U.S. and return to Scotland.
January 9, 2008: Governor Strickland commutes John Spirko’s sentence to life without Parole. He wrote, "I have concluded that the lack of physical evidence linking him to the murder, as well as the slim residual doubt about his responsibility for the murder that arises from careful scrutiny of the case record and revelations about the case over the past 20 years, makes the imposition of the death penalty inappropriate in this case."
Catholic Bishops of Ohio 2005 letter to Governor Taft seeking mercy for Mr. Spirko
October 14, 2008: Richard Cooey is executed for the deaths of Wendy Offredo and Dawn McCreery, Summit County
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Cooey.
November 19, 2008: Gregory Bryant-Bey is executed for the death of Dale Pinkelman, Lucas County
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Bryant-Bey.
February 12, 2009: Governor Strickland commutes Jeffrey Hill’s death sentence for killing his mother, Emma Hill, to 25 years to life after pleas from family members not to execute.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Hill
June 3, 2009: Daniel Wilson is executed for the death of Carol Lutz, Lorain County
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Wilson.
July 14, 2009: John Fautenberry is executed for the death of Joseph Daron, Hamilton County.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Fautenberry.
July 21, 2009: Marvallous Keene is executed for the deaths of Joseph Wilkerson, Danita Gullette, Sarah Abraham, Wendy Cottrill, and Marvin Washington, Dayton.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Keene
August 18, 2009: Jason Getsy is executed for the death of Ann Serafino, Hubbard. The Parole Board had recommended clemency due, in part, to disparity in his sentence (the panel noted that others convicted in the murder-for-hire of Ann Serafino had received lesser sentences). The Governor did not follow this recommendation.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Getsy
September 15, 2009: Romell Broom’s execution was stopped after one hour and twenty minutes when problems inserting the needle into Mr. Broom's arms and legs persisted. At least 12-18 attempts were made to find a supportable vein. Mr. Broom was reported to be in great pain throughout the process. Mr. Broom was placed back on death row while the courts continue to examine this case.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Broom.
December 8, 2009: Kenneth Biros is executed for the death of Tami Engstrom, Trumbull County. He is the first person in the U.S. to be executed by a one drug lethal injection.
2007 Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Stickland seeking mercy for Mr. Biros
2009 Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Stickland seeking mercy for Mr. Biros
January 7, 2010: Vernon Lamont Smith, nka Abdullah Sharif Kaazim Mahdienneth, is executed for the death of Sohail Darwish from Toledo. The parole board was not unanimous in their recommendation for death
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Smith
February 4, 2010: Mark Brown is executed for the deaths of Isam Salman and Hayder Al-Turk from Youngstown.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Stickland seeking mercy for Mr. Brown
March 9, 2010: Lawrence Reynolds Jr. is executed for the death of Loretta Mae Foster from Cuyahoga Falls.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Reynolds.
April 20, 2010: Darryl Durr is executed for the death of Angel Vincent from Elyria.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Durr.
May 13, 2010: Michael Beuke is executed for the death of Roger Craig from Hamilton County. Michael, a devote Catholic, asked forgiveness for his crimes. He attended Mass early in the morning of his execution. His last words were to pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. Bishops Conlon (Steubenville) and Murry (Youngstown) witnessed his execution.Catholic Bishops of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Bueke.
Bishop Daniel Conlon, Diocese of Steubenville, letter to Governor Strickland
June 4, 2010: Governor Strickland commutes Richard Nields to life without parole. Mr. Nields was scheduled for execution on June 10, 2010 for the death of Patricia Newsome. The majority of parole board members recommended mercy due to questionable medical testimony and other judicial concerns.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Nields
July 13, 2010: William Garner is executed for the fire deaths of Denitra Satterwhite, Deondra Freeman, Myka Mack, Markeca Mason, and Richard Gaines from Hamilton County.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Garner
August 10, 2010: Roderick Davie is executed for the deaths of Tracey Jefferys and John Coleman from Warren Ohio.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Davie.
September 2, 2010: Governor Strickland commutes Kevin Keith to life without parole. Mr. Keith was scheduled for execution on September 15, 2010 for the deaths of Marichell Chatman, Marchae Chatman and Linda Chatman from Bucyrus Ohio. Despite a unanimous vote for execution from the parole board, the Governor believed there were “ real and unanswered questions surrounding the murders for which Mr. Keith was convicted.”
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Keith.
October 6, 2010: Michael Benge is executed for the death of Judith Gabbard from Hamilton Ohio.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Benge.
On December 15, 2010, Governor Strickland commuted the death sentence of Sidney Cornwell to life without parole. Mr Cornwell was scheduled for execution on November 16, 2010 for the death of Judith Gabbard from Hamilton Ohio. The Ohio Parole Board had recommended against mercy (7-1), but Strickland said jurors might have chosen a different sentence if they had known of the condition, called Klinefelter Syndrome.
Catholic Conference of Ohio letter to Governor Strickland seeking mercy for Mr. Cornwell.
February 17, 2011: Frank Spisak, Jr. is executed for the deaths of Rev. Horace Rickerson, Brian Warford, and Timothy Sheenan from Cuyahoga County.
Catholic Bishops of Ohio letter to Governor Kasich seeking mercy for Mr. Spisak.
March 10, 2011: Johnnie Baston was executed for the death of Chong Hoon Mah from Lucas County.
Catholic Bishops of Ohio letter to Governor Kasich seeking mercy for Mr. Baston
April 12, 2011: Clarence Carter, Hamilton County, was executed for the death of Johnny Allen. Catholic Bishops of Ohio letter to Governor Kasich seeking mercy for Mr. Carter.
May 17, 2011: Daniel Bedford, Hamilton County, was executed for the deaths of Gwen Toepfert and John Smith. The execution was delayed by court proceedings regarding his dementia and difficulties in inserting an intravenous line. Mr. Bedford participated in Mass and Communion prior to his execution.
Catholic Bishops of Ohio letter to Governor Kasich seeking mercy for Mr. Bedford.
On June 8, 2011, Governor Kasich commuted the death sentence of Shawn L. Hawkins (Hamilton County). The parole board unanimously recommended clemency based upon uncertainties and concerns over trial errors including conflicting testimony, ineffective counsel, and mishandling of evidence. Mr. Hawkins was scheduled for execution on June 14, 2011.
Catholic Bishops of Ohio letter to Governor Kasich seeking mercy for Mr. Hawkins.
On July 8, 2011, federal judge Gregory Frost delayed the July 19, 2011 execution of Kenneth Smith. He ruled that Ohio's death penalty procedures are enforced haphazardly. [MORE]
On July 21, 2011, Governor Kasich delayed the August 16, 2011 execution of Brett Hartman till November 13, 2012. This is to give the state more time to revamp their execution procedures.
Brett X. Hartman, Summit County, was scheduled for execution on Aug. 16, 2011 for the death of Winda Snipes.
Catholic Bishops of Ohio 2009 letter seeking mercy for Mr. Hartman.
On September 2, 2011, Governor Kasich delayed the September 20, 2011 execution of Billy Slagle till August 7, 2013. There are continued concerns over Ohio's death penalty procedures.
Billy Slagle, Cuyahoga County, was scheduled for execution on Sept. 20, 2011 for the death of Mari Anne Pope. [More]
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Ask him to end the use of the death penalty
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