Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has rescheduled the execution date of Keith Lamar, a Cuyahoga County man sentenced to death for his involvement in the 1993 Lucasville prison riot. Originally scheduled for November 16, 2023, Lamar’s execution will now take place on January 13, 2027. The rescheduling is attributed to Ohio’s ongoing difficulties in acquiring lethal-injection drugs.
During the 11-day standoff in the 1993 riot, which resulted in the deaths of nine inmates and a prison guard, Lamar was convicted of participating in the murder of four inmates and ordering the killing of a fifth. However, there have been efforts to exonerate Lamar, with supporters claiming his conviction was based on perjured testimony. Lamar is currently housed at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown.
Governor DeWine has repeatedly pushed back execution dates for Death Row inmates since taking office in 2019. The reluctance of pharmaceutical companies to supply drugs for executions has raised concerns. DeWine fears that if the state uses these drugs for lethal injections, the companies may refuse to sell any drugs to Ohio, affecting various programs that rely on state-provided medications.
Elwood Jones is the next Death Row inmate scheduled for execution, with a current date set for December 6. However, it is likely that Governor DeWine will further postpone the execution date. Jones was convicted of the 1994 murder of Rhoda Nathan, a 67-year-old woman attending a bar mitzvah at a Blue Ash hotel.
Keywords; Ohio Lethal Injection, Ohio Lethal Injection