(Columbus)—The
state of Ohio today executed Adremy Dennis, making him the 7th
Ohio death row inmate executed this year, and the 15th executed
since the state resumed executions in 1999.
According to the Death
Penalty Information Center, Ohio’s seven executions this year
put the state behind only Texas, which has executed 16 people this
year. Oklahoma has executed six people in 2004.
"Being outdone only
by Texas in the number of executions this year should make Ohioans
sit up and take notice. Unfortunately, though, we seem to have
gotten to a point where executions in Ohio have become so
commonplace that the media and the public hardly notice them
anymore," said State Public Defender David Bodiker.
"If the state could
somehow manage to pull itself up from the bottom and rank second
in the nation for something like job creation, access to health
care, or education performance, there would be banner headlines
announcing the accomplishment. But ranking second for the number
of executions will barely get a mention on the local news."
Dennis was 28 years old
at the time of his execution, making him the youngest Ohioan
executed since 1962. He was 18 years old when he committed the
crime. Had he committed his offense five months earlier, he would
not have been eligible for the death penalty. Dennis’ age and
abusive childhood led to a 5–3 split decision from the Parole
Board.
Dennis was also part of a
civil rights lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Ohio’s
lethal injection protocol. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court
of Appeals denied a request to stay Dennis’ execution pending
resolution of this lawsuit.
