Scott A. Ritchie was indicted in
Richland County for Aggravated Murder with death penalty
specifications and other related charges on May 10,
2007. On March 19, 2008, on Ritchie’s motion, the
Richland County Court of Common Pleas found that Ritchie
was a person with mental retardation and was thus
excluded from the death penalty under Atkins v.
Virginia, 536 U.S. 304 (2002) and State v. Lott,
97 Ohio St. 3d 303, 779 N.E.2d 1011 (2002). In making
this determination, the Court relied on findings by both
Ritchie’s expert, Dr. David Hammer, and the State's
expert, Dr. David Ott, that Ritchie was mentally
retarded. After finding
