» LEARN MORE: Ohio preparing for 1st execution in more than 3 years
There are 20 men on death row from the seven-county region. Read more about them and their cases below.
Richard Bays
Greene County
Bays was placed on death row for the Nov. 15, 1993 killing of Charles H. Weaver of Xenia. Bays repeatedly attacked the wheelchair-bound elderly man when he would not give him money for drugs.
For the full story: Accused killer used crack, says recording
Davel Chinn
Montgomery County
Davel V. "Tony" Chinn was sentenced to death on Sept. 1, 1989. Chinn and one other had abducted Brian K. Jones in his car from a parking lot in downtown Dayton on Jan. 30, 1989. After arriving in Jefferson Twp., Chinn shot Jones in the shoulder, causing an arterial bleed.
For the full story: Montgomery County cases involving the death penalty | Judge rejects bid to overturn man’s death sentence
Timothy Coleman
Clark County
Coleman was sentenced to death on Jan 2. 1996 for the aggravated murder of Melinda Stevens. Coleman shot Stevens twice in the head to prevent her from testifying against him in a drug-related case, according to prosecutors.
For the full story: Murderer gets death sentence in 1996 slaying
Von Davis
Butler County
Davis was sentenced to death in a 1984 trial for the murder of Suzette Butler. According to the autopsy report, Butler had died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head. At this time, Davis was on parole from a prior conviction of second degree murder.
For more information: State v. Davis
Jason Dean
Clark County
Dean was found guilty of aggravated murder in the April 2005 shooting and robbery of Titus Arnold. Based off of a jury recommendation, Judge Douglas Rastatter sentenced Dean to death for the murder and 146 years in prison for other charges.
For the full story: Man convicted of murder to get death
Antonio Franklin
Montgomery County
Franklin was sentenced to death in 1998 for the murder of his uncle and grandparents. At 19, Franklin was the youngest Death Row inmate to be sentenced in Montgomery County at that time.
For the full story: Death Row for Franklin, jury decides
Larry Gapen
Montgomery County
Gapen was placed on death row in 2001 for the murder of three. Gapen had used an ax to fatally beat his former wife, her companion and her 13-year-old daughter to death in September 2000.
For the full story: Prosecution, defense argue on death for Gapen | Death row inmate Larry Gapen trying for new trial
Donald Ketterer
Clark County
Ketterer pleaded guilty in a 2004 trial for the murder and robbery of 85-year-old Lawrence Sanders. A three-judge panel sentenced Ketterer to death with an additional 22 years for other charges.
For the full story: Panel sentences murderer to death
Juan Kinley
Butler County
Juan Kinley was sentenced to death in 1991 for the aggravated murder of his ex-girlfriend and her son. On Jan. 10, 1989, Thelma (31) and David (12) Miller were found on a garage floor where they had been butchered with a machete.
For the full story: The killer ‘has to pay a price’
Jose Loza
Butler County
Loza was sentenced in 1991 for shooting and killing four members of his girlfriend’s family. The victims were shot in the head at close range while they slept in their home.
For more information: Loza v. Mitchell
Calvin McKelton
Butler County
McKelton was sentenced to death on Nov. 2, 2010 for the murder of a witness who saw him strangle his girlfriend and attorney Margaret “Missy” Allen. McKelton had shot and killed Germains Evans Sr. execution-style.
For the full story: Death penalty upheld for man in Fairfield murder, killing of witness
Samuel Moreland
Montgomery County
In 1985, Samuel Moreland executed two adults and three children who were between the ages of 6 and 7. Per an 11-year-old’s testimony, Moreland had shot his grandmother as she threw a bottle at Moreland.
For more coverage: Judge denies new trial in 1985 slaying | Life isolated on Death Row
Austin Myers
Warren County
Austin Myers, 19, was sentenced on Oct. 6, 2014 for the aggravated murder of a former friend, Justin Black. Myers, with an accomplice, had planned to break in to the victim’s home to steal money and make Black’s disappearance look like a run-away.
For the full story: Jury in Myers trial recommends death for murder of Justin Black
David Myers
Greene County
David Myers was placed on death row on March 1, 1996 for the murder of Amanda Jo Maher. In 1988, Myers strangled Maher, mother of one and pregnant, then drove a railroad spike through her head near some abandoned railroad tracks in Xenia.
For the full story: Myers gets death sentence
Gregory Osie
Butler County
Gregory Osie was sentenced by a three-judge panel in April 2010 for the murder of David Williams. Osie murdered Williams to cover up an alleged theft by his then girlfriend, who worked for Williams.
For the full story: Execution date stayed for West Chester Twp. man
Kerry Perez
Clark County
Perez, of Springfield, was sentenced to death row for the aggravated murder of Ronald Johnson. Perez shot and killed Johnson during a March 2003 bar robbery.
For the full story: Death sentence for Springfield Killer stands
William Sapp
Clark County
William Sapp was indicted on nine counts of aggravated murder and 18 other charges for murder of two young girls and one woman.
For the full story: Man indicted in 3 deaths
Duane Short
Montgomery County
Duane Short was placed on death row for the double murder of his estranged wife and her friend in 2004.
For the full story: Trenton man’s death affirmed
Kenneth Smith
Butler County
Kenneth Smith was sentenced to death in 1995 for the murders of Lewis and Ruth Ray. Smith and his brother, Randy Smith, broke into the Rays' home in May 1995 and slayed the couple.
For the full story: Parole board denies clemency for Hamilton Killer
Clifford Williams
Butler County
On Jan. 7, 1991, Clifford Williams was found guilty of aggravated murder and aggravated robbery of Wayman Hamilton, a cab driver. Williams shot and robbed Hamilton after using his cab service to arrive in Hamilton, Ohio.
For more information: State v. Williams
About the Author