In Less Than Five Hours, He'll Be Dead

As I write this letter, it is about 5 p.m., and the state of Ohio is preparing to execute Mr. Jay Scott. In less than five hours, Scott will be dead. He was originally scheduled to be put to death on February 1, but that date was postponed. But now, the only person who can stop the execution is Gov. Bob Taft.

Jay Scott will only be the second person to be put to death in the state of Ohio since the death penalty was reinstated. The first was Wilfred Berry, dubbed "the volunteer" for requesting to stop all his appeals and move ahead with his execution. There are two others to be put to death this year. One is John Byrd. He has recently filed his last appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The other is William Scutter. He is also a "volunteer," although his attorneys are trying to get him declared incompetent to make this decision.

In the last few months, the spotlight has been on the issue of the death penalty and the mentally ill. Well, to end this letter, I will note that Mr. Scott is a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic and must take anti-psychotic medication.

May God have mercy on this soul. Thank you.

Michael Corley 358006
SOCF
P.O. Box 45699
Lucasville, OH 45699

The New Abolitionist - July 2001, Issue 20
Campaign To End The Death Penalty, Chicago, IL - www.nodeathpenalty.org