Glen Bates – black, age 33

Sentenced in Hamilton County, Ohio
By: a jury
Date of Crime: 3/29/15
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Bates killed his daughter, Glenara, who was 2 years old. The child suffered acute and chronic head injuries, battered child syndrome, and starvation. Bates used his daughter’s body like a bat and swung her head into the doorframe. The defense that a death sentence would have an adverse impact on the family, including six other children who could visit their father in prison if he were not executed.
Sources: The Cincinnati Enquirer 10/18/16 (2016 WLNR 31863072)

Damantae Graham – black, age 18

Sentenced in Portage County, Ohio
By: a jury
Date of Crime: 2/7/16
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Graham and two other teens robbed an apartment. During the robbery, Graham shot and killed Nicholas Massa, 18 years old.
Sources: Cleveland Plain Dealer 11/16/16 (2016 WLNR 35352904)

Michael Madison – black, age 35

Sentenced to death in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
By: jury
Date of crime: 2013
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Madison approached the victim, Shirelida Terry, age 18, when she was walking to work. He introduced himself as Ivan and formed a fake relationship with her. He claimed that he was 25 and was a carpenter and painter when really he was 35 and unemployed and selling marijuana. On July 19, 2013, Terry’s body was found in Madison’s garage. A day later, the bodies of Shetisha Sheeley, 28, and Angela Deskins, 38, were found in a lot and vacant home near Madison’s home. Madison had a hatred for women. He mutilated the genitals of one of the victims and then stuffed all the bodies in trash bags to dispose of them. After being arrested, Madison admitted to killing Terry and Sheeley, but denied killing Deskins. The defense argued that the deaths of the women occurred as a result of violent outburst that was caused by Madison’s abusive and neglected childhood. When Madison was only 2 years old, his mother stuffed food down his throat, which caused him to vomit. His mother would also put him in hot water and beat him with an extension cord.
Sources: Cleveland Plain Dealer 6/3/16 (2016 WLNR 17036968), Cleveland Plain Dealer 5/21/16 (2016 WLNR 15561715)

James Tench – white, age 25

Sentenced to death in Medina County, Ohio
By: jury
Date of crime: 11/12/13
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Tench beat his mother, Mary Tench, to death. Mary was found in her car and the coroner states that she died from several blunt trauma injuries in her neck and head. Mary confronted her son, Tench, about his debt and that he was using her credit card. Tench claimed he did not kill his mother. In 2014, Tench pleaded guilty to robbing a restaurant and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
Sources: Cleveland Plain Dealer 4/26/16 (2016 WLNR 14501357)