Frank Spisak
Frank Spisak, 59, spent the night before his execution listening to music and watching television news, received communion in his cell, and had met with his daughter the weekend before. Ohio executed him by lethal injection on February 17, 2011, at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, after more than 27 years on death row. His attorneys argued that he was too mentally ill to be executed, saying a severe bipolar disorder was not diagnosed until years later, and asked the Ohio Parole Board to spare his life. The parole board and Gov. John Kasich declined to intervene, and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his final appeal the day before. He was pronounced dead at 10:34 a.m.
Cause of death, as reported: Executed by the state. His attorneys argued he had severe mental illness and should not be executed, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to delay the execution.
Reported by: Ohio state execution (Southern Ohio Correctional Facility) (the agency that held him); his attorneys.