The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

Related Photos

March 16, 2007

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland denies clemency to Biros

By Matt Snyder

BROOKFIELD — Kenneth Biros’ execution date is set for Tuesday. While a stay of execution — or a new battery of litigation from his defense — could delay that date, Gov. Ted Strickland will not.

“The governor has denied clemency to Kenneth Biros,” Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said Friday.

Biros murdered, robbed and dismembered Tami Engstrom, 22, of Hubbard in 1991 after offering to take her out for coffee from a Brookfield bar.

Strickland had granted a reprieve to Biros when he took office in January so that he could review the case, since Biros’ execution date had been set for Jan. 23.

Debbie Heiss, Ms. Engstrom’s sister, said the family is preparing for Tuesday’s execution. She said the family understood Strickland’s need to review the case, and commended him on his decision.

John Parker, Biros’ defense attorney, said he was disappointed by the governor’s decision. “We were hoping our governor would file a suit and not risk having an unconstitutional execution.”

He said some states had stopped their executions pending the result of a challenge to lethal injection’s constitutionality. North Carolina, Maryland, California and Missouri have put them on hold, Parker said.

Biros’ execution is still stayed as a result of a challenge to the lethal injection execution method in Ohio. A spokesman for Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann’s office, Leo Jennings, said there is a motion to vacate that stay, which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit may hear before Tuesday.

Parker said the defense on Friday also filed for another stay of execution with the U.S. Supreme Court. Parker said the stay was meant to give the court time to hear a case that was filed on March 6.

The case Parker wants heard, he said, argues that one of the prior appeals Biros was denied had relied on another court case in its decision. That other case, he said, has since been declared unconstitutional.

Watkins said Biros’ defense was re-litigating issues that had already been addressed. “It’s just absolutely wrong that at the last minute we’re getting these frivolous lawsuits to obstruct justice. I mean, how many times do you have to review something?”

Parker denied anything frivolous about their case, and said, “We’re just trying to pursue all legal remedies that are available.”

Parker said he had spoken to Biros on Friday. “He’s holding up,” Parker said. “He’s hopeful the Sixth Circuit or the U.S. Supreme Court will give him an opportunity to litigate these important issues.”

Text Only
Local News
  • GC man called suspect in Jan. 27 bank robbery

    A Grove City man charged with robbing a Zelienople bank Monday is a suspect in the Jan. 27 robbery of a Sandy Lake bank.

    February 8, 2012

  • Committee to focus on finances for future

    Sharon city leaders have money on their minds as they look to the future of the once-vibrant town struggling with a limited tax base and higher costs of doing business.

    February 8, 2012

  • Summer work turns into year-round part-time job

    A Sharpsville resident asked council members this week why the man hired as summer help is still on the payroll in the middle of winter.

    February 8, 2012

  • Police ask public to be their eyes

    Officials and residents of Farrell and Sharon discussed the good things and problems in their towns, and heard how a neighborhood that faced a similar situation fought back Tuesday at the second Taking Back Our City meeting.

    February 8, 2012

  • Labor Dept.: Franchise’s workers not paid properly

    The owners of the Brookfield Subway restaurant have been paying their employees less than minimum wage, shorting them on overtime pay and violating child labor laws for two years, a federal lawsuit alleges.

    February 7, 2012

  • Insecurity: Firm loses more local clients

    Reynolds Area School District is scrambling to find people to work security at upcoming games after finding out the Pittsburgh-area security firm they were using had some guards who were convicted felons or sex offenders.
    “That was a shock, believe me,” said school board President John Lowry.

    February 7, 2012

  • School budget predictions improve

    The upshot to planning for a worst-case scenario is it makes any change an improvement.
    Such is the case with Farrell Area School District’s finances, business manager William Dungee told school board members Monday.

    February 7, 2012

  • Chief gripe: Cramped quarters

    In Sharpsville, the long arm of the law needs room to stretch out.
    Police Chief Keith Falasco told council members Monday night that his department’s current space “is at the least inadequate,” and after off-and-on talks over the years to make improvements, he said the time has come.

    February 7, 2012

  • Pets perish in house fire

    A Sharon family’s home was heavily damaged in a Saturday night fire that killed their pets.

    February 6, 2012

  • Kelly rallies GOP faithful

    Mercer County Republicans agreed it was time for a change from the current administration at their annual Lincoln Day dinner Saturday night at Hempfield Station One Banquet Center, and Congressman Mike Kelly called not only for change but for more accountability.

    February 6, 2012