March 2021 | Page 12 of 117 | My Crime Library

John Stojetz Ohio Death Row

John Stojetz was sentenced to death by the State of Ohio for a prison murder. According to court documents John Stojetz would stab a fellow inmates multiple times causing his death. Authorities believe the murder was related to race. John Stojetz was convicted and sentenced to death.

Ohio Death Row Inmate List

John Stojetz 2021 Information

Number A255365

DOB 02/13/1956

Gender Male Race White

Admission Date 03/16/1992

Institution Chillicothe Correctional Institution

Status INCARCERATED

John Stojetz More News

The Ohio Supreme Court has scheduled an execution nearly five years in the future for a man convicted of a 1996 killing.

Death row inmate John Stojetz (STOH’-yets), who is white, was convicted of fatally stabbing 17-year-old Damico Watkins, who was black, at Madison Correctional Institution on April 25, 1996, in what authorities called a race-related slaying.

Madison County Prosecutor Stephen Pronai (proh-NEYE’) argued Stojetz has exhausted all his legal options and is also not part of a bigger lawsuit challenging Ohio’s lethal injection method.

Defense attorney Michael Benza has said that setting a date now serves no purpose for the criminal justice system, the families involved or Stojetz.

The Supreme Court on Friday set an execution date of March 14, 2024.

https://apnews.com/article/c69152804244420784945ce8265ed5f3

Dawud Spaulding Ohio Death Row

Dawud Spaulding was sentenced to death by the State of Ohio for a double murder. According to court documents Dawud Spaulding would murder his ex girlfriend and another man, Ernest “Ernie” Thomas and Erica Singleton, plus would be involved in a shooting that would leave another man paralyzed. Dawud Spaulding would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death

Ohio Death Row Inmate List

Dawud Spaulding 2021 Information

Number A634998

DOB 04/17/1982

Gender Male Race Black

Admission Date 02/19/2013

Institution Chillicothe Correctional Institution

Status INCARCERATED

Dawud Spaulding More News

The Ohio Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of a man convicted of killing the mother of his two children and her boyfriend.

The court ruled 6-1 Thursday to reject arguments raised by attorneys for Dawud Spaulding of Akron.

He was sentenced to die for killing 28-year-old Erika Singleton and 31-year-old Ernest Thomas outside her Akron home in December 2011. Court records show Singleton had a protective order against Spaulding at the time. Prosecutors said Spaulding had stalked and terrorized Singleton before killing her.

Singleton also was convicted in a related shooting hours earlier that left Thomas’ nephew paralyzed.

Spaulding’s appeal argued he should have had separate trials for the slayings and for shooting the nephew.

A dissent by Justice William O’Neill said Spaulding deserved new separate trials

https://www.morningjournal.com/news/ohio/ohio-supreme-court-upholds-death-sentence-of-akron-man/article_82c19c3c-a7da-5358-b432-9922b9a0b91e.html

David Sneed Ohio Death Row

David Sneed was sentenced to death by the State of Ohio for a robbery murder. According to court documents David Sneed would shoot and kill the victim Herbert Rowan during a robbery. David Sneed would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death. David Sneed would later be resentenced to life in prison without parole

Ohio Death Row Inmate List

David Sneed 2021 Information

Number A192040

DOB 12/10/1961

Gender Male Race Black

Admission Date 08/08/1986

Institution Chillicothe Correctional Institution

Status INCARCERATED

David Sneed More News

Appellant was then tried on the indictment commencing on May 19, 1986. A jury found appellant guilty of all charges and specifications on June 11, 1986, and at the conclusion of the penalty phase, on July 27, 1986, the jury recommended that appellant receive the death penalty. The trial court adopted the jury’s recommendation and imposed the death sentence.

On November 17, 1984, the victim, Herbert M. Rowan, a resident of Chicago, Illinois, arrived at a friend’s house in Canton, Ohio, to visit for the weekend. The following day, sometime between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m., Rowan left his friend’s home to go drinking. Rowan went to a bar and was observed by one witness leaving around 1:30 to 1:45 a.m. on November 19.

According to the testimony of Chevette Denise Brown, a nineteen-year-old prostitute, she was standing outside Andre’s Restaurant near the 300 block of DeWalt Avenue, wearing a rabbit coat, when Rowan drove by in his rented Buick automobile around 2:30 to 3:00 a.m. on November 19. Brown stopped Rowan and asked him if he “want[ed] a date.” Rowan declined the offer, circled the block and again drove down the alley at the 300 block of DeWalt Avenue. Brown again propositioned Rowan, who then circled the block a second time and again approached Brown. Appellant, who was apparently in the background near Brown, wearing a trench coat, instructed Brown to ask Rowan if he would give them a ride home. Brown complied and the two entered Rowan’s car. Brown opened the front passenger door and sat down in the passenger seat, appellant got in the back, directly behind the driver.

Appellant directed Brown to another destination and, en route, asked Rowan to pull over, turn the car off and to “give him some money.” Rowan refused, stating that he only had enough money to get to where he was going. Appellant then pulled out a gun and pointed it at Rowan’s temple and told Rowan that “this * * * [is] a robbery.” Upon Rowan’s refusal a second time, appellant pulled the trigger, shooting the victim. Brown related that Rowan’s head immediately struck the steering wheel causing the car horn to sound. In response to the prosecutor’s question concerning the likelihood of this particular shooting to cause Rowan’s death, the Chief Deputy Coroner and pathologist for the Stark County Coroner’s Office stated: “Generally speaking, any bullet which goes in through the skull and perforates the brain or goes into the brain itself is with rare exceptions fatal, so this could have been the fatal bullet.” Furthermore, Brown stated that appellant then exited the vehicle, pulled Rowan off the steering wheel and pushed him over. Brown got into the back seat and appellant drove the car to an alley by a house.

While hidden in the alley, appellant purloined Rowan’s jewelry and wallet. Next, Brown testified, appellant handed the gun to her over the front seat of the car and Brown, following appellant’s orders after being threatened with the gun, shot Rowan in the back of his head. Appellant then drove to another alley where Brown helped appellant place the body into the trunk of the car.

Brown stated that after the shooting they drove the car to appellant’s apartment and changed clothes. Appellant removed Rowan’s boots, socks and jacket while Brown cleaned the front seat with a brush, towel and bucket of water. Afterward, the two drove in the victim’s car to the house of appellant’s brother, Theotis Dillard. Dillard and appellant went outside where appellant opened the trunk and disclosed the body. The three then drove back to the appellant’s apartment. Brown related that Dillard and the appellant cut electrical cords from lamps, obtained two cement blocks and a plastic garment bag. Dillard in his car and the appellant and Brown in the victim’s car drove to the Allen Street bridge. Brown testified that she watched as appellant and Dillard tied the two cement blocks with the electrical cords to Rowan’s feet. The two then tossed Rowan’s weighted body off the bridge and into the creek below. The body, however, did not become hidden beneath the water in the creek; it landed on the bank and was found the next day.

On November 19, 1984, Rowan’s body was discovered on the banks of Nimishillan Creek underneath the Allen Street bridge in Canton, Ohio. The corpse was partially enveloped in a plastic garment bag bearing the name “Joe Slaughter Men’s Store.” A cement block was tied to the ankles by an electrical cord and a piece of speaker wire later found to have been severed from Rowan’s car stereo. A second electrical cord and also speaker wire were tied around the neck. Another cement block tied with an electrical cord or speaker cord lay within two feet of the body. The body was without shoes, socks or jewelry, clothed in a cowboy shirt and jeans. Two bullet holes were in the victim’s head: one toward the rear of the skull, the other beside the right eye.

In addition to the testimony indicated supra, the jury also received testimony from Dillard which corroborated that of Brown. Additionally, Dillard testified that while he and the appellant were in the process of disposing of the body, appellant admitted that he had shot the victim. Dillard was not prosecuted for his involvement with the appellant and Brown on this crime. Brown was indicted for aggravated murder and pled to the indictment in a plea bargain wherein she would not have to face the death penalty. She received a sentence of twenty years to life.

The events which gave rise to appellant’s arrest are as follows. On December 6, 1984, parole officer Patrick Munford met with Roxanne Goosby, a patient in Timkin Mercy Hospital, after Goosby informed Munford about a telephone threat that appellant had made against her. Munford then arranged for appellant to come to his office the following day “to discuss some matters of alleged activity.” Present with Munford at the interview was Munford’s supervisor, senior parole officer David Slater. Shortly thereafter, two policemen arrived with a warrant for appellant’s arrest on an assault charge filed by Goosby. After appellant was taken into custody, the parole officers requested his permission to search the premises of his apartment at 1460 Water Court. Although appellant denied that he agreed to the search of his home, Munford, Slater and one of the two policemen asserted that appellant approved the search, proclaiming that “he had nothing to hide.” Upon their arrival, Munford and Slater were met at the door by Chevette Brown and obtained her permission to search the residence. During the ensuing search, a .25 caliber handgun was uncovered in the bedroom of the apartment. Soon thereafter, the Canton police learned that the handgun taken from appellant’s apartment could possibly be the weapon used to kill Rowan. The suspicion was confirmed by subsequent ballistic tests.

Detective Michael O’Brien of the Canton Police Department testified that during the course of the investigation he was able to locate the victim’s car. Brown’s fingerprints were found in the car. Based on the evidence obtained, a search warrant was issued for the Water Court residence of appellant and Brown. In the course of the search, the police confiscated an imitation leather coat, a brown nylon jacket, a blue towel, two lamps with severed cords attached, a Zippo lighter, scrub brush and a rabbit fur coat. At the conclusion of the search, Brown was arrested on an outstanding warrant for contempt of court. After being advised of her constitutional rights, Brown confessed to her complicity with the appellant in the death of Rowan.

https://casetext.com/case/state-v-sneed-16

David Sneed Life Without Parole

A new Ohio law prohibiting the execution of people severely mentally ill at the time of their crime has led to the removal of another prisoner from death row.

Gov. Mike DeWine signed the bill into law last year covering killers diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder or delusional disorder.

Last month a Stark County judge found that death row inmate David Sneed suffered from schizoaffective disorder when he fatally shot a man in 1984 . Sneed was resentenced to life without parole.

Last year judges removed inmates in Butler and Franklin counties from death row after their attorneys successfully argued they met the mental illness criteria.

https://www.wkbn.com/news/ohio/latest-inmate-removed-from-death-row-via-mental-illness-law/

Kenneth Smith Ohio Death Row

Kenneth Smith was sentenced to death by the State of Ohio for a double murder. According to court documents the victim lent Kenneth Smith money which he had not repaid. Kenneth Smith and his brother Randy Smith would go over to the victims home and murder the husband and wife, 58-year-old Lewis Ray and 54-year-old Ruth Ray, before robbing the home and fleeing. Kenneth Smith was arrested convicted and sentenced to death

Ohio Death Row Inmate List

Kenneth Smith 2021 Information

Number A326630

DOB 11/13/1965

Gender Male Race White

Admission Date 02/16/1996

Institution Corrections Medical Center

Status INCARCERATED

Kenneth Smith More News

On May 12, 1995, sometime around 11:00 p.m., defendant-appellant, Kenneth W. Smith (“defendant”), and his brother, Randy Smith (“Randy”), brutally murdered Lewis Ray and Ruth Ray in their Hamilton, Ohio home. Lewis was severely beaten, his skull was fractured, and his throat was slit, severing his windpipe and carotid arteries. Ruth died from manual strangulation. Their home was ransacked, and money and jewelry were taken. The following morning, David L. Lester, Ruth’s son, discovered the bodies of his mother and stepfather and called the police.

In the Rays’ home, police observed signs of a struggle, blood on the kitchen floor, and bloody footprints throughout the house. Police found a damaged white ceramic coffee pot covered with blood stains in the trash can and a green army camouflage hat on the floor. A knife had recently been removed from a butcher block set. Police found Lewis lying on the kitchen floor and Ruth lying in the doorway between the hall and bedroom. The Rays’ bedroom had been ransacked, and the contents of dressers were strewn about the floor.

Earlier in the evening of May 12, 1995, defendant and Randy had gone to the Crystal Lounge, a.k.a. Crystal Bar, with a friend, Russell C. Baker. At approximately 10:20 p.m., defendant borrowed Baker’s car allegedly to pick up his wife, Brenda Smith, and some friends. By midnight, defendant had not returned Russell’s car. At about that time, Brenda and Lillian Canafax, Randy’s live-in girlfriend, arrived at the Crystal Lounge also looking for the Smith brothers. About forty-five minutes later, Russell and the two women decided to go to Chasteens Bar. Defendant eventually showed up at Chasteens Bar at approximately 1:30 a.m. When Russell questioned defendant about the car, defendant claimed that he was late because he had been in a fight at a gas station. Defendant showed Russell a bump on his head. At the time, Russell also noticed that defendant had changed his clothes.

At approximately 2:00 a.m., defendant left Chasteens Bar in his Monte Carlo automobile with Brenda, Randy, Lillian, and Russell. Defendant drove to his house, handed his car keys to Randy, and instructed Randy to take a stuffed pillowcase from a nearby blue automobile and put it into the trunk of the Monte Carlo. Russell accused the Smith brothers of being “out thieving with my car.” Defendant replied, “Russell, I wouldn’t do that.” The group then drove to Buckeye Street, where Russell’s brother, James, was staying. Russell soon went home and to bed.

In the early hours of May 13, 1995, defendant admitted to his friend, James Baker, that he had killed Lewis Ray and that his brother, Randy, had strangled Ruth Ray. James testified that on May 12, 1995, he was staying at his mother’s apartment, when defendant and Randy arrived at approximately 1:30 a.m. in Russell’s automobile. The Smiths had been to the apartment earlier in the evening before going to the Crystal Lounge. Defendant told James that he had been in a fight, and James noticed that defendant had cleaned up and changed clothes. Defendant was wearing a sweater and boots instead of tennis shoes. He was not wearing a hat. James further testified that defendant left the apartment again at 1:35 a.m. to go to Chasteens Bar.

When defendant returned to James’s mother’s apartment at approximately 2:45 a.m., he began to tell James about the murders. James testified that defendant told him that he had taken a hammer and “struck Louie Ray between his eye[s],” and that during this time, defendant had winked at his brother, Randy, who followed Ruth into a bedroom and strangled her. Defendant also told James that they took gold and jewelry in a pillowcase from the Rays’ home.

James testified that when he asked defendant why he killed the Rays, defendant replied that they had killed them to prevent the Rays from identifying them. James testified that defendant “was talking how he sliced Lewis Ray’s throat from ear to ear and just laughing about it.” Defendant also told James that after he killed Lewis, he “kicked Ruth’s brain in” to make sure she was dead. James testified that defendant brought a pillowcase stuffed with jewelry inside the apartment, but James asked him to take it back to the car.

Later that morning, James was driving around with defendant and Brenda. They stopped to buy cigarettes and marijuana. Defendant mentioned to James that he was concerned because he lost his green army camouflage hat in the struggle with Lewis. Eventually they drove to Russell’s home. There, out of defendant’s presence, James told Russell what defendant had admitted. Defendant then suggested to James that he hide the remaining jewelry. This prompted Russell to contact the police. Police later recovered the jewelry in the attic of a garage.

In addition to the testimony of James Baker, Lillian Canafax testified that she was outside Chasteens Bar arguing with Randy when he showed her a gun. She testified that she saw the same gun in her bedroom the following morning. Several days later, after she found the gun and money under the bed, she authorized police to search the apartment. Lillian also turned over to police three money orders she had purchased for Randy the day after these crimes occurred.

Another witness testified that around 11:15 or 11:30 p.m., he saw Randy standing outside a pizza parlor about a block from the Rays’ residence. The witness testified that Randy had a hammer in his hand as he ducked behind the building. Russell testified that a hammer was missing from his car after he had loaned his car to defendant.

That afternoon, the police detained defendant for questioning. At the time, police observed cuts and scratches on defendant’s face, and a long cut and bruises near his right collarbone. Police also searched Brenda’s purse and discovered a cellophane bag containing rings, two $100 bills, and a quantity of nonsequentially numbered food stamps. Police knew that Lewis sold similar jewelry and suspected that he may have dealt in food stamps as currency.

At the police station, defendant waived his Miranda rights and admitted that he and Randy had killed Lewis and Ruth. Defendant said that while at the Crystal Bar, he and Randy had talked about going to rob the Rays, and decided that they would have to kill the Rays because they did not want the Rays to be able to identify them. Defendant told police that after arriving at the Rays’ house, he and Lewis began to argue about money that defendant supposedly owed Lewis. Defendant further admitted that he picked up an object from the kitchen counter and struck Lewis, eventually overpowering him. Defendant claimed that Lewis said, “I’m going to kill you, Kenny,” so defendant grabbed a knife and cut Lewis’s throat. He then rolled Lewis on his side and took his wallet. Defendant said he walked to the bedroom and saw Ruth’s body on the floor. Randy had choked her to death. The two men ransacked the bedroom and left in Russell’s automobile.

Police apprehended Randy Smith. They found $344 in bloodstained currency on him. Randy initially denied any knowledge of the murders. Police allowed Randy to speak with his brother, who said, “They got us brother, everybody is telling on us, tell the truth, that’s what I did.” Randy then explained to the police his involvement in the crimes.

Later, after again being advised of his Miranda rights, defendant gave the police a written confession. In his statement, defendant said that while playing pool at the Crystal Lounge, he talked with Randy about robbing Lewis. He borrowed Russell’s car and drove to a pool hall about half a block from the Ray home. Defendant stated that he and his brother walked to the Rays’ house. Lewis invited the Smiths into his home. Defendant and Lewis began to argue about $2,500 that defendant owed Lewis. The men began to fight in the kitchen and defendant grabbed something from the counter and struck Lewis’s head. They continued to wrestle on the floor. Defendant knew he was going to have to kill Lewis to keep him from telling anyone what happened. Defendant then grabbed a knife and “sliced Louie across the throat.”

In his written confession, defendant further admitted that he took Lewis’s wallet, then walked into the bedroom. Ruth was lying on the floor in the doorway, and defendant had to step over her body. Defendant said he asked Randy what had happened, and Randy said he had choked Ruth. Defendant further admitted that he then ransacked the bedroom, taking rings, watches, and necklaces, and placed the items in a plastic bag and left.

According to his signed confession, defendant went home after the murders to shower and change clothes. He and Randy divided the money found in Lewis’s wallet. Defendant’s share was around $625. Defendant then put his bloody clothes, the knife, and Lewis’s wallet into a green trash bag that Randy later threw into the river. The two men then drove to Chasteens Bar.

In his confession, defendant explained that after leaving Chasteens Bar, he drove to the apartment where James Baker was staying and began to go through the jewelry that the defendant and Randy had taken from the Rays’ house. Defendant picked out some items he wanted to keep. The following morning he placed some rings into a plastic bag and gave them to Brenda, who put them into her purse. Defendant put the remainder of the jewelry into the trunk of his Monte Carlo. He and James then put the jewelry into the attic of James’s grandmother’s garage. During police questioning, defendant also admitted that the wristwatch he was wearing had belonged to Lewis.

At trial, defendant testified that he and Randy went to the Rays, intending only to steal saws and drills from the yard. They parked the car away from the house, but as they walked into the yard, Lewis opened the gate and saw them. Lewis invited them into the house, and the men began to argue about money that defendant allegedly owed Lewis. Defendant testified that within ten minutes, “everything got real violent.” Lewis “jumped up,” told defendant he “was going to shoot” him, and hit defendant “upside the head with something.” Defendant testified that he grabbed something from near the stove and struck Lewis. Defendant testified that Lewis tried to push him down the basement steps. Defendant then grabbed a knife and cut Lewis as he approached. Defendant bent down, turned Lewis on his side, and grabbed his wallet. Defendant further testified that Randy told him that he had choked Ruth. The brothers then ransacked the bedroom, taking jewelry.

Defendant denied that he intended to kill the Rays. Defendant claimed that Lewis was his best friend, and he “wouldn’t cold blooded kill him for nothing.” Defendant testified that he was very upset about the Rays because they were “like family” to him. He admitted that he told James about killing Lewis, but testified that he wasn’t laughing or joking, but instead, he was “in tears.”

Kenneth Smith was charged in two counts with the aggravated felony-murder of Lewis Ray and Ruth Ray in violation of R.C. 2903.01(B). Each murder charge contained three death specifications: the offense was committed to escape detection, apprehension, trial, or punishment for other offenses, R.C. 2929.04(A)(3); the offense was part of a course of conduct involving the purposeful killing of two or more persons, R.C. 2929.04(A)(5); and the offense was committed during the course of an aggravated robbery, R.C. 2929.04(A)(7). He was also charged with two counts of aggravated robbery that included the allegation of a prior felony conviction for attempted burglary. The jury convicted defendant as charged and recommended the death penalty on the aggravated murder counts. The trial court sentenced defendant to death.

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-6th-circuit/1457368.html

George Skatzes Ohio Death Row

George Skatzes was sentenced to death by the State of Ohio for a triple prison murder. According to court documents George Skatzes was responsible for the deaths of a prison guard and two other inmates during a prison riot (lucasville). George Skatzes would be convicted and sentenced to death.

Ohio Death Row Inmate List

George Skatzes 2021 Information

Number A173501

DOB 03/29/1946

Gender Male Race White

Admission Date 05/02/1983

Institution Chillicothe Correctional Institution

Status INCARCERATED

George Skatzes More News

he state’s evidence established the following. The riot was planned by the prison’s primary gangs: the Aryan Brotherhood, a white supremacist group, the Muslims, who were mostly black, and the Black Gangster Disciples, who focused on making money rather than on any philosophical viewpoint. It was unusual for these groups to work together. The Muslims were upset on religious grounds by mandatory tuberculosis testing scheduled to begin on Monday, April 12, 1993, and the Aryan Brotherhood was upset by racial integration in inmate housing.

{¶ 4} On April 11, 1993, Easter Sunday, the riot began in L-block at approximately 3:00 p.m. as inmates from one or two cell blocks were returning from the recreation yard. The prison was short-staffed that day because of the holiday. The inmates overpowered the corrections officers in the gymnasium and in the central corridor, beat them, and took their keys. Within a relatively short period of time, the various cell blocks and individual cells throughout L-block were unlocked, and the inmates were released into the common areas. The corrections officers who had been staffing the cell blocks fled to the locked restrooms and stairwells for safety pursuant to prison policy, but inmates broke through metal doors and cinder block walls using weight bars and furniture and took them hostage. The corrections officers were beaten, some seriously, then were gathered in designated areas and changed into inmate clothing. Meanwhile, the gangs positioned inmate guards at the door to the recreation yard to prohibit inmates from leaving L-block. Over four hundred inmates remained inside L-block for the duration of the riot.

{¶ 5} The initial hours of the riot were characterized by chaos, random destruction of prison property, and violence against inmates who were believed to be “snitches” or against whom others had personal vendettas. However, the leaders of the three gangs worked together and organization began to emerge. The most seriously injured corrections officers were released onto the recreation yard, and the bodies of several murdered inmates, including Earl Elder, were deposited there as well. Gang members armed themselves with a wide variety of makeshift weapons, established internal rules, designated security officers, and began telephone negotiations with authorities. Each gang occupied a designated area, and each held some of the hostages. Authorities cut off power and water to L-block.

{¶ 6} Skatzes and Jason Robb were the leaders of the Aryan Brotherhood during the riot. Skatzes was one of the primary negotiators with the authorities during the early days of the riot and identified himself to the authorities. Along with the other inmate negotiators, Skatzes presented a list of demands compiled by gang members and other inmates. The demands related to prison conditions generally, such as the tuberculosis testing and the racial integration, and to conditions as they existed during the course of the riot, such as the need for food drops and the inmates’ desire that water and power be restored to L-block. Officials began audio taping these telephone negotiations on April 13. They also installed microphones in tunnels that ran underneath L-block, which were able to record some of the inmates’ conversations, including some of the meetings of the gang leaders (“the tunnel tapes”).

{¶ 7} As days passed, there was some unhappiness and restlessness among the gang leaders about the lack of progress in the negotiations. These feelings were exacerbated by an April 14 television broadcast by Tess Unwin, a spokesperson for the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, which seemed to disparage the inmates’ threat to kill a hostage. During telephone negotiations on the morning of April 15, Skatzes repeated the gangs’ demand that water and power be restored to L-block, and he specified that, if the state did not comply by 10:30 a.m., “it’s a guaranteed murder.” The state did not comply, and at 11:10 a.m., the body of Corrections Officer Robert Vallandingham was placed on the recreation yard by four inmates.

{¶ 8} Later that day, the gang leaders agreed to release a hostage in exchange for making a radio broadcast regarding their demands. Skatzes made the radio broadcast on behalf of the inmates that night, and Corrections Officer Darrold Clark was released. Because many inmates and gang members were disappointed with Skatzes’ presentation of their demands in the radio broadcast, his role in the negotiations diminished after this point.

{¶ 9} After several more days of negotiation and after consulting with an attorney, the gang leaders agreed to a surrender on April 21, 1993. The surrender occurred over several hours as small groups of inmates were processed by the authorities. The gang leaders were the last inmates to surrender, and the remaining hostages were released. Some murders and attempted murders occurred during the surrender, including the murder of inmate David Sommers, whose body was found when the authorities reentered L-block. As part of their agreement with the authorities, over one hundred gang members were transferred out of Lucasville immediately upon their surrender.

{¶ 10} When the authorities entered L-block to conduct their investigation, they found vast destruction of prison property. For example, almost all of the windows, toilets, and sinks had been smashed, pipes had been exposed, and fires had been set. Because of the vast destruction, the number of inmates involved, and the elapsed time, the authorities were unable to uncover physical evidence linking crimes to particular inmates. Thus, they built cases based largely upon the testimony of other inmates. In all, fifty inmates were charged with felonies, and many more were disciplined administratively following the riot.

{¶ 11} Skatzes was indicted for the aggravated murders of Elder, Vallandingham, and Sommers and for kidnapping Elder, Vallandingham, and Clark. The evidence in support of each of these counts will be discussed infra. Each count of aggravated murder included four specifications of aggravating circumstances: that Skatzes was a prisoner at the time of the offense, that the offense was part of a course of conduct by Skatzes involving the purposeful killing of or attempt to kill two or more persons, that the offense was committed while committing kidnapping, and that he had previously been convicted of an offense involving the purposeful killing of another. Each count of kidnapping contained a specification that Skatzes had previously been convicted of an offense that was substantially equivalent to an aggravated felony of the first degree, namely aggravated murder.

There were two separate indictments that were merged at trial.

{¶ 12} The case was transferred from Scioto County to Montgomery County, and Skatzes was tried to a jury in October, November, and December 1995. Skatzes elected to have the existence of his prior conviction determined by the trial court, rather than the jury, as permitted by R.C. 2929.022(A). The jury found Skatzes guilty of each count of aggravated murder and found that each of the three specifications submitted to it existed. Additionally, the trial court found that the fourth specification existed, i.e., that Skatzes had previously been convicted of an offense involving the purposeful killing of another. The jury also found Skatzes guilty of each count of kidnapping.

https://casetext.com/case/state-v-skatzes-5