© 2024 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Gov. Kasich Calls Off Lethal Injection of Sick Inmate

picture of execution bed
STATEHOUSE NEWS BUREAU

After months of warnings that a death row inmate was too sick to be executed, the state tried and failed to carry out his lethal injection.

Convicted killer Alva Campbell was in the execution chamber lying on the table for more than 20 minutes, but the medical staff couldn’t find a viable vein.

Gov. John Kasich, who was monitoring the attempted execution from a different location, ultimately called it off.

Lynn Hulsey of the Dayton Daily News says the staff tried to stick Campbell’s arm for a while, then tried his ankle.

“It’s just notable how gentle they were with him and a couple of them you could see them reach out and pat him on the shoulder as they went through the process.”

But the ACLU, which opposes executions, called the process “torture” for Campbell.

Kasich announced the new execution date has been set for June 2019.

Andy Chow is a general assignment state government reporter who focuses on environmental, energy, agriculture, and education-related issues. He started his journalism career as an associate producer with ABC 6/FOX 28 in Columbus before becoming a producer with WBNS 10TV.