Ohio - Gov. Kasich Commutes Death Row Inmate’s Sentence

A death row inmate had his sentence commuted to life without the possibility of parole, thanks to Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

The Republican governor on Friday spared condemned killer Raymond Tibbetts whose sentence was challenged following a juror’s concerns about the extent of Tibbetts’ childhood abuse that was allegedly shielded at trial.

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Kasich cited "fundamental flaws" in the sentencing portion of Tibbetts' trial. Kasich said: "Specifically, the defense's failure to present sufficient mitigating evidence, coupled with an inaccurate description of Tibbetts' childhood by the prosecution, essentially prevented the jury from making an informed decision about whether Tibbetts deserved the death sentence.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEWS: This morning, Gov. <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnKasich?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JohnKasich</a> granted clemency and commuted Ray Tibbetts’s death sentence to a life sentence! Thank you, Gov. Kasich, for doing the right thing. And thank you to every person who called, wrote, and signed a petition. You helped save Ray’s life!</p>&mdash; Sister Helen Prejean (@helenprejean) <a href="https://twitter.com/helenprejean/status/1020345112512081921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2018</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you Governor Kasich! Your mercy has brightened America&#39;s horizon in these deeply troubled times!</p>&mdash; Etienne McD (@smcdonn4499) <a href="https://twitter.com/smcdonn4499/status/1020346494837317634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Ex-juror Ross Geiger expressed serious concerns last year arguing that jurors weren’t given enough information about Tibbetts’ childhood.

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Geiger said then that he was surprised to discover recently the gravity of the abuse Tibbetts and his brothers suffered including not being fed properly and adequately, being thrown down stairs, having their fingers beaten with spatulas and being burned on heating registers.

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Geiger wrote Kasich in January citing his concerns and requesting that Tibbetts be spared the death sentence. Geiger also testified before the parole board last month in a rare follow-up clemency hearing. The board appeared unconvinced then and voted overwhelmingly, 11-1 against mercy for Tibbetts last year. The board upheld their vote against sparing Tibbetts in another round, voting 8-1 against mercy anew.

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Kasich’s decision effectively rejected that ruling.

Tibbetts, 61, was sentenced to death for killing Fred Hicks at Hicks’ Cincinnati home in 1997.

Tibbetts also received life imprisonment for beating and stabbing his wife to death, 42-year-old Judith Crawford, during an argument that same day over Tibbetts' crack cocaine habit.

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Hicks, 67, had hired Crawford as a caretaker and allowed the couple to stay with him.

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Some took to social media to express their disagreement with Kasich’s decision, with others even questioning the governor’s political motive behind the move.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kasich is running in 2020. He’s working his way down his compassionate Republican law and order checklist.</p>&mdash; Elaine Taylor (@JessesLaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/JessesLaw/status/1020352728978075649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2018</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I wonder if Kasich considered what the future of the murder victim may have been should the turd not have murdered him. I guess that doesn&#39;t count.</p>&mdash; Robt V (@Robt_VC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Robt_VC/status/1020347129443831810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2018</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">AWWW Poor baby, I had a rough childhood and I never killed anyone</p>&mdash; p. head (@phead54693153) <a href="https://twitter.com/phead54693153/status/1020342286113177600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2018</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BS. I had a tough childhood. My father tried to shoot me &amp; my Mom. Ive never committed crime. Fry him</p>&mdash; RETIRED O R (@BionicOrgans) <a href="https://twitter.com/BionicOrgans/status/1020352509985083393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2018</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Horseshit</p>&mdash; Jay Prestridge (@P50Jay) <a href="https://twitter.com/P50Jay/status/1020353692766294016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Source:

http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Ohio-killer-spared-after-extent-of-childhood-abuse-revealed-488730171.html