Ohio Parole Board denies death row inmate Kevin Keith's innocence claim

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Parole Board unanimously rejected clemency Thursday for a man who says he's innocent of the 1994 triple slaying he's scheduled to die for next month.

The board said no evidence was presented in the case of Kevin Keith that would alter the outcome of the trial.

“Compelling evidence was presented at trial and in response to Keith's request for a full pardon that leads a reasonable person to conclude that Keith committed these crimes,” the eight-person board said in its ruling.

The case was the highest-profile innocence claim to ever come before the board. Innocence groups and anti-death penalty organizations around the country sided with Keith, including an unsuccessful attempt to have the U.S. Supreme Court review his argument.

The board sent its recommendation to Gov. Ted Strickland, who has the final say. Keith, 46, is scheduled to die by injection Sept. 15.

Police say Keith entered an apartment in Bucyrus, about 60 miles north of Columbus, on the evening of Feb. 13, 1994, and sprayed it with gunfire, killing Marichell Chatman, 24; her 4-year-old daughter, Marchae; and the Marichell's aunt, Linda Chatman, 39.

Three others were wounded, including siblings Quanita Reeves, 7, and Quentin Reeves, 4. Marichell Chatman was the sister of an undercover police informant whose efforts led to a drug raid weeks earlier during which Keith was arrested.

Linda Chatman's brother openly rejoiced at the news Thursday.

“My people need closure, and he know he did it,” said Herb Chatman, 53, of Crestline. He called Keith a coward for shooting women and children.

“The best thing for him to do is go confess and maybe he might get to heaven, but I doubt it,” said Chatman.

Keith's attorneys said too many questions about Keith's guilt remained unanswered and they urged Strickland to spare him.

“Under these circumstances, the Governor cannot be absolutely certain — as he must be — that Mr. Keith is guilty of this crime and deserves the most final of punishments: execution,” the attorneys said.

They have identified an alternate suspect, argue that Keith's identification by survivors and other witnesses was problematic and say he has a strong alibi placing him elsewhere at the time.

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