Kasich delays eight executions

Ohio Gov. John Kasich is delaying executions of eight inmates on Death Row. The move comes in response to a federal court case brought by prisoners challenging Ohio’s execution protocols.

U.S. District Court Magistrate Michael Merz ruled on Jan. 26 that Ohio’s latest three-drug method is unconstitutional and he delayed three executions. The state is appealing the ruling but the legal process is expected to bump up against Ohio’s execution schedule.

Kasich’s order delays execution of the following inmates:

Ronald Phillips, from Feb. 15 to May 10

Gary Otte, from March 15 to June 13

Raymond Tibbetts, from April 12 to July 26

Alva Campbell Jr., from May 10 to Sept. 13

William Montgomery, from June 13 to Oct. 18

Robert Van Hook, from July 26 to Nov. 15

Jeffrey Wogenstahl, from Sept. 13 to April 17, 2019

Melvin Bonnell, from Oct. 18 to April 11, 2018.

Ohio’s executions have been on hold since January 2014 when the execution of Dennis McGuire took 26 minutes as he gasped and snorted. The state used a previously untested two-drug method on McGuire. Ohio ditched that method but has had trouble obtaining drugs for lethal injections.

Information from the Associated Press is included in this report.

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