A man who was convicted of killing two people in back-to-back robberies in suburban Cleveland in 1992 was executed on Wednesday as family members of his victims looked on.
The prison system announced his time of death as 10.54 a.m following the administration of three lethal drugs at the southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucaville.
In his final statement, the 45 years old otte professed his love to his family, sang a christian Hymn and quoted Bible. He said, "God is good all the time," and added, "I'm sorry." Then, he sighed deeply and began singing, "The Greatest Thing," with words such as "I want to know you, Lord" and "I want to serve you, Lord." He stopped singing at 10:39.
Otte quoted the Bible with his last words: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they're doing. Amen." The words were derived from a Bible account of Jesus Christ's crucifixion.
Otto gave a thumbs-up sign, and then his stomach rose and fell many times between 10.41 to 10.42. two members of state execution team did a consciousness check at 10.42, his stomach continued to rise and fall and finally he appeared to go still.
Otte was sentenced to death for Feb 12, 1992 killing of Robert Wasikowski and Feb 13, 1992 killing of Sharon Kostura. Witnesses on Wednesday included daughter and brother of Robert and sister, brother-in-law and niece of Sharon.
Otte didn’t sleep on Tuesday after arriving from prison at 9.46 a.m, and spent his time with his family and friends.
His legal appeals ended about two hours before his scheduled execution when the Ohio Supreme Court declined to weigh in on his contention that he shouldn't be put to death because of his age at the time of the crime. Otto was 20 years old when he killed Robert and Sharon.
Authorities said that he was asked to go inside Wasikowski's apartment to use the phone and then shot the 61-year-old and stole about $400. The next day, authorities say, Otte forced his way into the apartment of the 45-year-old Kostura in the same building, shot her and stole $45 and her car keys.
The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor said Otte still wouldn’t take full responsibility of his crime and blame others, and killing wasn’t spur-of-the moment decision by otte.
By A.s
