Great news! Today, Governor John Kasich announced he will grant a reprieve until October 17, 2018 to Ray Tibbetts, who had been scheduled for execution on Tuesday, February 13, 2018. The purpose of this temporary reprieve is to allow the Ohio Parole Board to convene a hearing to consider new evidence bearing on Ray's clemency request. 

Thanks to you and many others taking action, there will not be an execution next week. There is a lot of work that goes into stopping executions. That's why we are so grateful to you for being an Ohioan to Stop Executions. Thank you.

Since there will not be an execution Feb. 13, we've decided to postpone the activity at the Statehouse to April 11, the date of Ohio's next scheduled execution. OTSE will post information and actions on the case of William T. Montgomery in the coming weeks.

Following is a statement from Erin Barnhart, attorney for Ray Tibbetts:

"Governor Kasich acted in the interests of fairness and justice by recognizing new information provided by a juror from Mr. Tibbetts’ trial merits careful additional consideration. Because a juror from the original trial recently revealed flaws in the proceedings, there is now incontrovertible proof that Mr. Tibbetts never would have ended up on death row had the system functioned properly. This juror—whose single vote for life would have made Mr. Tibbetts ineligible for the death penalty under Ohio law—was shocked when he saw evidence that Mr. Tibbetts’ abuse and abandonment continued throughout his childhood, even once the State placed him in foster care. The juror also learned that this horrible environment had devastating consequences for all of the Tibbetts children. Even more, Tibbetts’ severe addiction problems were not fully addressed, particularly in regard to the dangers of prescribing opioids to people with a history of addiction. Mr. Tibbetts’ attorneys failed to present this evidence at trial and the prosecutor misstated the facts. Juror Geiger's view of the case provides compelling reasons for the exercise of the Governor’s reprieve power to allow the Ohio Parole Board to convene a hearing to consider this new information. We are confident that after doing so, the Board and the Governor will agree that clemency is appropriate to correct the failures in the legal process in this case. Governor Kasich has done our State a great service today by ensuring that careful consideration is given to this new information.” 

-Erin Barnhart, Attorney for Ray Tibbetts and Assistant Federal Public Defender, Capital Habeas Unit, Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio

Warrant of Reprieve for Raymond Tibbetts: http://bit.ly/2nMheUo

Letter from Gov. Kasich to Chairman of Ohio Parole Board: http://bit.ly/2EbROcZ

Thanks so much for making calls to Governor Kasich. Please know, a "THANK YOU, GOVERNOR KASICH" call would be greatly appreciated! You can reach the governor's office at 614-466-3555.

 Robert,

Great news! Today, Governor John Kasich announced he will grant a reprieve until October 17, 2018 to Ray Tibbetts, who had been scheduled for execution on Tuesday, February 13, 2018. The purpose of this temporary reprieve is to allow the Ohio Parole Board to convene a hearing to consider new evidence bearing on Ray's clemency request. 

Thanks to you and many others taking action, there will not be an execution next week. There is a lot of work that goes into stopping executions. That's why we are so grateful to you for being an Ohioan to Stop Executions. Thank you.

Since there will not be an execution Feb. 13, we've decided to postpone the activity at the Statehouse to April 11, the date of Ohio's next scheduled execution. OTSE will post information and actions on the case of William T. Montgomery in the coming weeks.

Following is a statement from Erin Barnhart, attorney for Ray Tibbetts:

"Governor Kasich acted in the interests of fairness and justice by recognizing new information provided by a juror from Mr. Tibbetts’ trial merits careful additional consideration. Because a juror from the original trial recently revealed flaws in the proceedings, there is now incontrovertible proof that Mr. Tibbetts never would have ended up on death row had the system functioned properly. This juror—whose single vote for life would have made Mr. Tibbetts ineligible for the death penalty under Ohio law—was shocked when he saw evidence that Mr. Tibbetts’ abuse and abandonment continued throughout his childhood, even once the State placed him in foster care. The juror also learned that this horrible environment had devastating consequences for all of the Tibbetts children. Even more, Tibbetts’ severe addiction problems were not fully addressed, particularly in regard to the dangers of prescribing opioids to people with a history of addiction. Mr. Tibbetts’ attorneys failed to present this evidence at trial and the prosecutor misstated the facts. Juror Geiger's view of the case provides compelling reasons for the exercise of the Governor’s reprieve power to allow the Ohio Parole Board to convene a hearing to consider this new information. We are confident that after doing so, the Board and the Governor will agree that clemency is appropriate to correct the failures in the legal process in this case. Governor Kasich has done our State a great service today by ensuring that careful consideration is given to this new information.” 

 

-Erin Barnhart, Attorney for Ray Tibbetts and Assistant Federal Public Defender, Capital Habeas Unit, Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio

 

Warrant of Reprieve for Raymond Tibbetts: http://bit.ly/2nMheUo

Letter from Gov. Kasich to Chairman of Ohio Parole Board: http://bit.ly/2EbROcZ

 

Thanks so much for making calls to Governor Kasich. Please know, a "THANK YOU, GOVERNOR KASICH" call would be greatly appreciated! You can reach the governor's office at 614-466-3555.