COLUMBUS, OH – A new report from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost reveals that the state’s capital punishment system remains mired in a stalemate, with no executions carried out in over six years and little progress made in addressing the ongoing issues.
Ross County’s Lawrence Landrum, 55, has been on death row since 1986 after being convicted of murdering Harold White during the course of burglarizing White’s home. His execution had been slated ever since. Lawrence his housed in Ross County Correctional not to far from where he murdered.
The “2024 Capital Crimes Report,” released today, details the procedural history of death penalty cases in Ohio since 1981. According to the report, of the 342 death sentences handed down, only 56 have been carried out, with the last execution taking place in July 2018. Currently, 116 inmates remain on Ohio’s Death Row, facing a combined 118 death sentences.
“The only thing that has changed? The killers got a year older,” Yost stated, expressing frustration with the lack of progress. “There needs to be some real progress – until that happens, Ohio cannot fulfill its promise of justice.”
The report highlights the lengthy appeals process, which contributes significantly to delays. On average, condemned inmates spend over 22 years on Death Row before an execution date is set. Yost cited the case of Danny Lee Hill, who has filed more than 25 appeals since being sentenced nearly 40 years ago, as an example of the drawn-out nature of capital punishment cases.
The state also faces challenges in securing lethal injection drugs, due to pharmaceutical companies’ reluctance to supply them for executions. Yost has called on state lawmakers to address this issue, pointing to the possibility of using nitrogen hypoxia as an alternative.
The report references a recent directive from the federal government, urging states to seek assistance in obtaining lethal injection drugs. It also highlights the use of nitrogen hypoxia in other states, with Louisiana recently carrying out its first execution in 15 years using the method, and Alabama having used it in four executions since January.
“There are two paths available to Ohio to enforce the laws on our books,” Yost said. “Pick one.”
The 2024 Capital Crimes Report, which provides detailed data and case information, is available for public viewing on the Attorney General’s website.
