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DEATH PENALTY FOR OHIO WOMEN Victor Streib author of FAIRER DEATH: EXECUTING WOMEN IN OHIO

DEATH PENALTY FOR OHIO WOMEN Victor Streib author of FAIRER DEATH: EXECUTING WOMEN IN OHIO. THE FAIRER DEATH: EXECUTING WOMEN IN OHIO Stories of 4 women executed in history of Ohio Stories of 11 women sentenced to death in current era (post 1972)

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DEATH PENALTY FOR OHIO WOMEN Victor Streib author of FAIRER DEATH: EXECUTING WOMEN IN OHIO

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  1. DEATH PENALTY FOR OHIO WOMEN Victor Streib author of FAIRER DEATH: EXECUTING WOMEN IN OHIO

  2. THE FAIRER DEATH: • EXECUTING WOMEN IN OHIO • Stories of 4 women executed in history of Ohio • Stories of 11 women sentenced to death in current era (post 1972) • Analysis of death penalty process for women who kill

  3. EXECUTING WOMEN IN U.S. ALL U.S. HISTORY (1632-present): 568 executions of girls and women Only 3% of all executions in U.S. Led by VA (123), MA (49), & MD (47) CURRENT ERA (post-1972): 11 executions of women, 1984-2007 Only 1% of all executions in U.S. Led by OK (3), TX (3), & FL (2) “MONSTER” Aileen Wuornos, FL, 2002

  4. Black woman, a prison inmate in Columbus Penitentiary Beat to death white female inmate Assisted by another black female Her hanging in Columbus was attended by a drunken crowd of thousands HESTER FOSTERSentenced to death Jan. 9, 1844Executed February 9, 1844

  5. Poisoned 4 elderly men in Cincinnati Rare serial killer Demonized as “that German woman” May have been covering for her son ANNA MARIE HAHNSentenced to death Nov. 28, 1937Executed Dec. 7, 1938

  6. First husband in prison for raping her daughter Married rich farmer who lived near Owensville on farm east of Cincinnati 4 months later, she poisoned new husband DOVIE DEANSentenced to death Feb. 23, 1953Executed January 15, 1954

  7. Strangled and drowned her black female lover at lake near Cincinnati Her defense was need to escape sexual slavery Last woman executed in Ohio BETTY BUTLERSentenced to death April 5, 1953Executed June 12, 1954

  8. ANALYZING CASES OF EXECUTED OHIO WOMEN 2 black women violently killed “less important” victims 2 white women poisoned “more important” victims 3 of 4 cases in or near Cincinnati Last 3 cases apparently had competent defense attorneys Why were the thousands of other women who killed in Ohio not executed?

  9. LAST HALF CENTURY SINCE 1954 OHIO: 45 men have been executed in Ohio No women executed in Ohio NATIONALLY: About 1,700 men executed nationally Only 14 women executed, 1% of total

  10. DEATH SENTENCES IN CURRENT ERA (post-1972) Nationally, 159 women sentenced to death, but only 50 still on death row 11 executions; 66% reversal rate In Ohio, 11 women sentenced to death, but only 1 still on death row No executions; 91% reversal rate

  11. BRIEF HISTORY OF OHIO DEATH PENALTY LAWS Ohio has had death penalty since 1804 Overturned in 1972 by U. S. S. Ct. case New statute enacted within few months 4 women sentenced under this 1972 statute Overturned in 1978 by U. S. S. Ct. case Sandra Lockett case New statute enacted in 1981 Current statute in force in Ohio

  12. She helped her husband hire a hit-man to kill husband’s mother and grandmother Motive was to inherit victims’ estates Death sentence reversal part of all-Ohio ruling PATRICIA WERNERTSentenced to death on Nov. 22, 1976Now serving life in prison

  13. Extremely drunk when she murdered and robbed gay bar owner Conviction and death sentence reversed in 1988 Reconvicted at 2nd trial and given life sentence Eligible for parole in 2013 SHARON YOUNGSentenced to death on Sept. 30, 1983 Now serving life in prison

  14. Burned her two baby boys to death as they slept Life insurance policies just taken out Death sentence affirmed on appeal but commuted in 1991 ROSALIE GRANTSentenced to death on Oct. 21, 1983Now serving life in prison

  15. She and her husband killed 8 people in 6 states Sentenced to death both in Ohio and in Indiana Mentally retarded, abused as child, and under control of husband Ohio death sentence commuted to life DEBRA BROWNSentenced to death on June 18, 1985Now serving life in prison

  16. Robbed and murdered elderly drug dealer Retarded, abused, and easily manipulated Committed crime with female friend ELIZABETH GREENSentenced to death on July 11, 1988Now serving life in prison

  17. Hired hit-man to kill her abusive husband Assisted by daughter who also was abused Unsuccessfully used Battered Woman Syndrome as defense BEATRICE LAMPKINSentenced to death on April 26, 1989Now serving life in prison

  18. Helped her black lover kill her white husband Refused to permit any defense at penalty trial OH Sup. Ct. reversed death sentence in 2006 DONNA ROBERTSSentenced to death on June 21, 2003Reversed on August 2, 2006

  19. Burned her 4-yr-old son to death She had been burned badly herself at age 4 Elyria trial fully covered by Court TV Only woman now on death row in Ohio NICOLE DIARSentenced to death Nov. 2, 2005Now on Ohio’s death row

  20. CASES OF OHIO WOMEN SENTENCED TO DEATH Offenders: 6 black, 5 white Victims: 5 black, 7 white Only black women sentenced to death for killing black victims 6 of 11 women had mental disabilities 7 of 11 women did not kill victims themselves All 11 cases from urban or suburban areas Why were these 11 women selected to die?

  21. SEX BIAS IN OHIO’S DEATH PENALTY? Language of statutes and cases gender neutral (“any person”; “he, she, or they..”) Statutes expressly prohibit discrimination in sentencing based upon sex of offender Some death sentencing factors may affect men or women offenders differently Hiring killer; child victim Under duress; no criminal record

  22. DO NUMBERS REVEAL BIAS? 486 executions in all of Ohio history Only 4 (0.8%) were of women 45 executions in Ohio since 1954 None were of women 190 people now on death row in Ohio Only 1 (0.5%) is a woman *************************************** Women commit about 10% of capital crimes, receive about 2% of the death sentences, and comprise less than 1% of executions

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