Ohio Delays 3 Scheduled Executions Of Prisoners

COLUMBUS, OH — This week, Governor Mike DeWine issued three reprieves for prisoners scheduled to be executed. All three executions have been delayed until at least 2021.

The executions of Gregory Lott, John Stumpf and Warren "Keith" Henness have all been pushed into 2021 or 2022. All three men were scheduled to be executed in March, April and May of 2020, respectively.

Lott's execution is now scheduled for May 27, 2021. Stumpf's execution is scheduled for September 15, 2021, and Henness' execution is scheduled for January 12, 2022.

DeWine has been forced to issue several delays for executions during his tenure due to the state's inability to acquire appropriate drugs for the executions.

Ohio currently uses a three-drug lethal injection protocol. However, many drug manufacturers are banning the use of their products in executions. Those same manufacturers have threatened to cut off all sales of their products to Ohio government agencies. That is, in part, because some of the drugs used in Ohio executions have also been found to possibly create pain in prisoners.

Since Ohio cannot source those drugs without risking the lives of other Ohioans, the executions have been further delayed, according to DeWine's office.