Robert Van Hook | |
|---|---|
 Van Hook in a 2006 prison photograph | |
| Born | Robert J. Van Hook January 14, 1960[1] Sharonville, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | July 18, 2018 (aged 58) |
| Cause of death | Execution by lethal injection |
| Motive | Homophobia, robbery |
| Conviction(s) | Aggravated murder Aggravated robbery |
| Criminal penalty | Death (July 30, 1985) |
| Details | |
| Victims | David Lyman Self, 25 |
| Date | February 18, 1985 |
The execution of Robert Van Hook occurred on July 18, 2018, at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, Ohio. Van Hook was executed via lethal injection for the 1985 murder of 25-year-old David Self. His case achieved notoriety because of his failed gay panic defense.[2] Ultimately, his conviction was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court and Governor John Kasich of Ohio rejected his bids for clemency.[3][4]
The execution garnered new attention and significance in December 2020, when Governor Mike DeWine announced that the state of Ohio would no longer execute death row inmates via lethal injection.[5] Since the execution of Van Hook, there has been an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment in the state, as a result of the unavailability of the drugs needed to carry out lethal injection. DeWine indicated no executions would be carried out until the Ohio General Assembly approves a new method of execution. As a result, Van Hook remains the last person executed in Ohio by lethal injection. If no new alternative execution method is found, he will also remain the last person executed in the state of Ohio.[6]
- ^ "Offender Details". drc.ohio.gov. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
- ^ "Killer in 'homosexual panic' case is executed, singing until the drugs kick in". The Mercury News. July 18, 2018. Archived from the original on July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
- ^ "Ohio executes killer who tried "homosexual panic" defense after 1985 murder". cbsnews.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-21. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ Staff, AOL. "Ohio death row inmate Robert Van Hook executed for 1985 murder of gay man". aol.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "DeWine says lethal injection 'impossible' option for Ohio executions". The Hill. December 8, 2020. Archived from the original on December 16, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
- ^ "Ohio governor: Lethal injection no longer execution option". Associated Press. December 8, 2020. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.