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Kasich Stays Execution Of Child Killer
< < Back to kasich-stays-execution-child-killerGovernor John Kasich has stayed the execution of Ronald Phillips who was scheduled to be executed Thursday.
Phillips, 40, requested Monday for his organs to be donated to his ailing sister and mother but the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction rejected his request.
The Governor’s decision, announced late Wednesday, is meant to assess the feasibility of such a donation.
“Ronald Phillips committed a heinous crime for which he will face the death penalty,” Kasich said. ”I realize this is a bit of uncharted territory for Ohio, but if another life can be saved by his willingness to donate his organs and tissues then we should allow for that to happen.”
Phillips’ mother suffers from kidney disease while his sister has a hearing condition.
The state had planned to use midazolam, a sedative, and hydromorphone, a painkiller to execute Phillips. No U.S. state has ever tried the drug mixture for an execution and their potential effect on the organs is unknown. The supply of pentobarbital, the drug previously used in Ohio’s executions, ran dry in September after it’s manufacturer banned it for sale for use in executions.
Phillips was sentenced to death for the beating, rape and death of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old in 1993.
Governor Kasich had denied Phillips clemency last week after all other legal options for Phillips had been exhausted.
Phillips’ new execution date has been set for July 2, 2014.