Ohio killer set for execution found hanged in cell

[The Straight Story]

Ohio killer set for execution found hanged in cell

CLEVELAND (AP) — A man condemned to death for fatally stabbing a neighbor during a Cleveland burglary was found hanged in his cell Sunday just days before his Wednesday execution.

Billy Slagle, 44, was found at about 5 a.m. at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution south of Columbus and was declared dead within the hour, prison spokeswoman JoEllen Smith said.

"He was in his cell alone. No other inmates suspected to be involved," Smith said in an email. "It does appear to be a suicide."

Under regular prison policy, he was scheduled to be placed under pre-execution watch Sunday morning but "was not yet placed under constant watch," Smith said.

Slagle was sentenced to die for the 1987 stabbing of Mari Anne Pope, who was killed while two young children she was watching were in the house.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ohio-killer-set-execution-found-hanged-cell

[Warren Stupidity]

1. The State gets all apeshit if you self execute.

[Heather MC]

2. Odd I would think the Repugs would love the time and money this saves them

[Logical]

3. Good for him. Take the joy away from the prison officials who wanted to kill him. n-t

[nomorenomore08]

4. Yeah, kind of sick that people get a certain "satisfaction" from killing.

I know the guy did a terrible thing, a crime worthy of life without parole. But killing him won't satisfy anything except, perhaps, some retrograde craving for blood sacrifice.

[Logical]

5. Life without parole would be fair for everyone. n-t

[ann---]

6. I agree

I am totally against the death penalty and disgusted by the fact that America is still up there with Iran and lots of other violent countries that still haven't abolished it. I think the U.S. should become civilized on this.