Undated photo provided by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction shows Billy Slagle. Slagle, scheduled to die this month for stabbing a Cleveland woman to death in 1986, is awaiting the Ohio Parole Boards decision on his plea for mercy. (AP)
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Parole Board has recommended against mercy for a condemned man scheduled to die this month for stabbing a Cleveland woman to death in 1986.
The board ruled unanimously Thursday that the horrific nature of Billy Slagle's crime outweighed the effects of his chaotic childhood and young age at the time. The 42-year-old Slagle was sentenced to death for killing neighbor Mari Anne Pope in Cleveland.
His attorneys said clemency was justified because Slagle was only 18 when he committed the crime and was a chronic alcoholic with a chaotic upbringing.
The state argued that the jury and several appeals courts had heard and rejected those arguments.
The final decision is up to Gov. John Kasich.
Slagle also has an appeal pending in federal court.
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