Post by MXB on Aug 12, 2006 12:21:06 GMT -5
Ferguson the youngest Person to be execited by Ohio in 44 years
LUCASVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- A self-described Satan worshipper set to die by injection Tuesday for stabbing, stomping and kicking to death three people he robbed in Dayton would be the youngest person executed in Ohio in 44 years.
Darrell Ferguson, 28, would be the fourth inmate executed in Ohio this year, the 23rd since the state resumed executions in 1999 and the youngest since 1962. Adremy Dennis, also 28, was about two months older than Ferguson when he was executed in 2004.
Ferguson asked for the death penalty at his sentencing and opted not to appeal, which could have delayed his execution for years.
He visited with his parents and other family members Monday at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, which houses Ohio's death chamber, Dean said.
"He had a very good afternoon with his family," Dean said. "It was an emotional time for him as well as his family. There were tears as well as laughter." She said they spoke about his life and his decision to go forward with the execution.
Ferguson would be the second inmate put to death since the state changed its injection guidelines after an execution in May was delayed when prison staff struggled to find a viable vein on the inmate. Dean said Ferguson's veins were examined twice Monday after he arrived at the Lucasville facility from death row, and he appeared to have good veins.
Ferguson was convicted of three counts of aggravated murder in the Christmas Day killing of Thomas King, 61, in 2001 and the deaths the next day of Arlie Fugate, 68, and his wife Mae, 69. King, who was disabled and used crutches, Arlie Fugate, who had cancer, and Mae Fugate, who took meals to wheelchair-bound neighbors
The victims let Ferguson into their homes because the knew him. Ferguson's mother had been married to King's brother, and Ferguson's family had once lived near the Fugates.
Ferguson committed the murders after getting a two-day pass Dec. 21, 2001, to leave a Cincinnati drug treatment program he had been ordered to attend following a burglary conviction.
Ferguson admitted at his sentencing in 2003 that he took pleasure in killing his victims. He did not ask Gov. Bob Taft for clemency, which Taft said Monday he would not grant.
"The only thing that could stop this process is if the inmate were to change his mind," Dean said.
Dean described Ferguson's demeanor as "quiet and calm." About 30 people protesting the execution gathered near the prison Tuesday morning.
The day before the scheduled execution, the 285-pound former high school wrestler smoked cigarettes, listened to music on a radio and had a special meal of three T-bone steaks cooked medium rare, chicken, chocolate ice cream and Mountain Dew, Dean said. He finished the meal and had cherry pie later in the evening.
Ferguson spent most of the night awake, lying on his bed or talking with execution team members, Dean said. He showered Tuesday morning, was given a standard-issue prison breakfast of waffles, syrup, corn flakes, milk, cranberry juice and coffee and then visited with his mother and stepfather.
They planned to witness the execution, along with Ferguson's father. For the victims, witness were to include King's son and a family friend; and, the Fugates' son, grandson, daughter-in-law and niece.
Remorseless killer executed at Lucasville
By Alan Johnson
The Columbus Dispatch
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
LUCASVILLE, Ohio — Remorseless to the end, Darrell Ferguson was executed today for the Christmastime murders of three elderly, disabled Dayton residents in 2001.
Ferguson, 28, died by injection at the 10:21 a.m. at the Southern
Ohio Correctional Facility near Lucasville.
He did not look at the victim's family, six of whom were observing
from behind a glass wall. But he said to his parents, watching from an adjoining room, "Mom and dad, I love you both. I love you a lot. I wish you all the best."
His mother, Donna Davis, was crying and praying as she watched her son die. At one point she said, "I love you baby . . . you're in
God's hands now."
Ferguson, who previously said he worshipped Satan, made a sign that some consider to be a symbol of the devil as he died. While he was on the lethal-injection table — with his left arm extended palm up — he extended his index and little fingers to make the sign and held that pose for several minutes before lapsing into unconsciousness.
Afterward, there was as little sympathy for Ferguson as he showed his victims, one of whom was on crutches, another had cancer, and a third was in a wheelchair.
Immediately after the execution, a family friend of one of the
victims, Chris Purdue, said, "Goodnight. I hope he stays in hell
forever."
Ferguson, a long-time drug user and high-school wrestler — he now weighs 285 pounds — taunted his victims' families at the sentencing phase of his trial two years ago when he said he took satisfaction and pleasure in killing their loved ones.
"I will never show any remorse, even on the day I die."
He didn't.
Ferguson was convicted for stabbing and stomping to death Thomas King, 61, on Christmas Day in 2001. The following day, he killed Arlie Fugate, 68, and his wife, Mae, 69.
Robbery was the motive in all three murders, officials said. Ferguson used the money to buy drugs.
Seeking a speedy execution, Ferguson waived what would have been years of legal appeals to hasten his death.
He was the fourth Ohioan executed this year and the 23rd since the state resumed capital punishment in 1999.
LUCASVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- A self-described Satan worshipper set to die by injection Tuesday for stabbing, stomping and kicking to death three people he robbed in Dayton would be the youngest person executed in Ohio in 44 years.
Darrell Ferguson, 28, would be the fourth inmate executed in Ohio this year, the 23rd since the state resumed executions in 1999 and the youngest since 1962. Adremy Dennis, also 28, was about two months older than Ferguson when he was executed in 2004.
Ferguson asked for the death penalty at his sentencing and opted not to appeal, which could have delayed his execution for years.
He visited with his parents and other family members Monday at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, which houses Ohio's death chamber, Dean said.
"He had a very good afternoon with his family," Dean said. "It was an emotional time for him as well as his family. There were tears as well as laughter." She said they spoke about his life and his decision to go forward with the execution.
Ferguson would be the second inmate put to death since the state changed its injection guidelines after an execution in May was delayed when prison staff struggled to find a viable vein on the inmate. Dean said Ferguson's veins were examined twice Monday after he arrived at the Lucasville facility from death row, and he appeared to have good veins.
Ferguson was convicted of three counts of aggravated murder in the Christmas Day killing of Thomas King, 61, in 2001 and the deaths the next day of Arlie Fugate, 68, and his wife Mae, 69. King, who was disabled and used crutches, Arlie Fugate, who had cancer, and Mae Fugate, who took meals to wheelchair-bound neighbors
The victims let Ferguson into their homes because the knew him. Ferguson's mother had been married to King's brother, and Ferguson's family had once lived near the Fugates.
Ferguson committed the murders after getting a two-day pass Dec. 21, 2001, to leave a Cincinnati drug treatment program he had been ordered to attend following a burglary conviction.
Ferguson admitted at his sentencing in 2003 that he took pleasure in killing his victims. He did not ask Gov. Bob Taft for clemency, which Taft said Monday he would not grant.
"The only thing that could stop this process is if the inmate were to change his mind," Dean said.
Dean described Ferguson's demeanor as "quiet and calm." About 30 people protesting the execution gathered near the prison Tuesday morning.
The day before the scheduled execution, the 285-pound former high school wrestler smoked cigarettes, listened to music on a radio and had a special meal of three T-bone steaks cooked medium rare, chicken, chocolate ice cream and Mountain Dew, Dean said. He finished the meal and had cherry pie later in the evening.
Ferguson spent most of the night awake, lying on his bed or talking with execution team members, Dean said. He showered Tuesday morning, was given a standard-issue prison breakfast of waffles, syrup, corn flakes, milk, cranberry juice and coffee and then visited with his mother and stepfather.
They planned to witness the execution, along with Ferguson's father. For the victims, witness were to include King's son and a family friend; and, the Fugates' son, grandson, daughter-in-law and niece.
Remorseless killer executed at Lucasville
By Alan Johnson
The Columbus Dispatch
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
LUCASVILLE, Ohio — Remorseless to the end, Darrell Ferguson was executed today for the Christmastime murders of three elderly, disabled Dayton residents in 2001.
Ferguson, 28, died by injection at the 10:21 a.m. at the Southern
Ohio Correctional Facility near Lucasville.
He did not look at the victim's family, six of whom were observing
from behind a glass wall. But he said to his parents, watching from an adjoining room, "Mom and dad, I love you both. I love you a lot. I wish you all the best."
His mother, Donna Davis, was crying and praying as she watched her son die. At one point she said, "I love you baby . . . you're in
God's hands now."
Ferguson, who previously said he worshipped Satan, made a sign that some consider to be a symbol of the devil as he died. While he was on the lethal-injection table — with his left arm extended palm up — he extended his index and little fingers to make the sign and held that pose for several minutes before lapsing into unconsciousness.
Afterward, there was as little sympathy for Ferguson as he showed his victims, one of whom was on crutches, another had cancer, and a third was in a wheelchair.
Immediately after the execution, a family friend of one of the
victims, Chris Purdue, said, "Goodnight. I hope he stays in hell
forever."
Ferguson, a long-time drug user and high-school wrestler — he now weighs 285 pounds — taunted his victims' families at the sentencing phase of his trial two years ago when he said he took satisfaction and pleasure in killing their loved ones.
"I will never show any remorse, even on the day I die."
He didn't.
Ferguson was convicted for stabbing and stomping to death Thomas King, 61, on Christmas Day in 2001. The following day, he killed Arlie Fugate, 68, and his wife, Mae, 69.
Robbery was the motive in all three murders, officials said. Ferguson used the money to buy drugs.
Seeking a speedy execution, Ferguson waived what would have been years of legal appeals to hasten his death.
He was the fourth Ohioan executed this year and the 23rd since the state resumed capital punishment in 1999.