Ohio Executes Man Guilty in Two Murders

By SARAH ANDERSON
Associated Press Writer
LUCASVILLE, Ohio -- Ohio carried out the nation's 999th execution since 1977 on Tuesday, putting to death a man who strangled his mother-in-law while high on cocaine and later killed his 5-year-old stepdaughter to cover up the crime.

John Hicks, 49, was put to death a day after Eric Nance was executed in Arkansas for killing a teenager by slashing her throat with a box cutter.

The 1,000th execution since the death penalty was reinstated is likely to come as soon as Wednesday, when Robin Lovitt is set to die in Virginia for fatally stabbing a man with scissors during a pool hall robbery.

Hicks offered a tearful apology for the 1985 murders earlier this month to Ohio Parole Board members, and said he loved both victims - 56-year-old Maxine Armstrong and 5-year-old Brandy Green. He said his cocaine high made him desperate and paranoid.

He repeated his apology before his execution, telling relatives, "I know this may be shallow or hollow words to y'all but it's coming from my heart."

Douglas Hughes, Armstrong's son-in-law, witnessed the execution with his wife and daughter, said Hicks "showed no real remorse. He never once apologized to the family and never asked forgiveness."

Hicks had traded his VCR for about $50 worth of cocaine, court records show. After taking the drugs, he realized that his wife would wonder where it was, so he decided to steal money from Armstrong and get it back.

He found his stepdaughter asleep on the couch at Armstrong's apartment. He woke her and brought her to bed and then strangled Armstrong, leaving with about $300 and some credit cards.

Realizing Brandy could identify him, he returned and attempted to suffocate the 5-year-old with a pillow, then strangle her. She struggled, and Hicks covered her mouth and nose with duct tape.

He left Cincinnati, but turned himself in to police. He was executed in the girl's death.

On Monday, Gov. Bob Taft had refused to commute Hicks' sentence from death to life in prison. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati and the U.S. Supreme Court also turned down last-minute appeals. Hicks was the 19th person executed in Ohio since the state resumed executions in 1999.

Last modified: November 29. 2005 1:07PM

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