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Crime

Convicted Murderer Says He’s Too Obese for Execution

Sep. 17, 2012 7:18pm Jason Howerton

Ronald Post Says Hes Too Obese For Execution

This undated photo provided by the Ohio Dept. of Rehabilitation and Corrections shows death row inmate Ronald Post. Post, 53, scheduled to die Jan. 16, 2013, for the 1983 shooting death of hotel desk clerk, wants his upcoming execution delayed. At 480 pounds, Post says he s too heavy for the state s lethal injection process.Credit: AP

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A condemned Ohio inmate who weighs at least 480 pounds wants his upcoming execution delayed, saying his weight could lead to a “torturous and lingering death.”

Ronald Post, who shot and killed a hotel clerk in northern Ohio almost 30 years ago, said his weight, vein access, scar tissue and other medical problems raise the likelihood his executioners would encounter severe problems. He’s also so big that the execution gurney might not hold him, lawyers for Post said in federal court papers filed Friday.

“Indeed, given his unique physical and medical condition there is a substantial risk that any attempt to execute him will result in serious physical and psychological pain to him, as well as an execution involving a torturous and lingering death,” the filing said.

Post, 53, is scheduled to die Jan. 16 for the 1983 shooting death of Helen Vantz in Elyria.

A spokeswoman for the prisons department had no comment on the pending litigation.

Inmates’ weight has come up previously in death penalty cases in Ohio and elsewhere.

In 2008, federal courts rejected arguments by condemned double-killer Richard Cooey that he was too obese to die by injection. Cooey’s attorneys had argued that prison food and limited opportunities to exercise contributed to a weight problem that would make it difficult for the execution team to find a viable vein for lethal injection.

Cooey, who was 5-foot-7 and weighed 267 pounds, was executed Oct. 14, 2008.

In 2007, it took Ohio executioners about two hours to insert IVs into the veins of condemned inmate Christopher Newton, who weighed about 265 pounds. A prison spokeswoman at the time said his size was an issue.

In 1994 in Washington state, a federal judge upheld the conviction of Mitchell Rupe, but agreed with Rupe’s contention that at more than 400 pounds, he was too heavy to hang because of the risk of decapitation. Rupe argued that hanging would constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

After numerous court rulings and a third trial, Rupe was eventually sentenced to life in prison, where he died in 2006.

Ohio executes inmates with a single dose of pentobarbital, usually injected through the arms.

Medical personnel have had a hard time inserting IVs into Post’s arms, according to the court filing. Four years ago, an Ohio State University medical center nurse needed three attempts to insert an IV into Post’s left arm, the lawyers wrote.

Post has tried losing weight, but knee and back problems have made it difficult to exercise, according to his court filing.

Post’s request for gastric bypass surgery has been denied, he’s been encouraged not to walk because he’s at risk for falling, and severe depression has contributed to his inability to limit how much he eats, his filing said.

While at the Mansfield Correctional Institution, Post “used that prison’s exercise bike until it broke under his weight,” according to the filing.

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Comments (122)

DaDragon408
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:56pm
How the Hell did he get to 480lbs in maximum security prison??? Ship him to Texas they will find a way to carry out the sentance. BBQ

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- nobull14
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 8:08pm
  No send him to sheriff Joe in Arizona ? Put him in the tent city in a pink jump suit . The heat will kill him in no time at all . He will also lose weigh. They feed each inmate on a 1 $ dollar a day budget there.
  
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- Ben__Franklin
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 8:15pm
  I don’t get this. He is in Prison and they don’t know how to limit his calories or is he eating other inmates? Who is running the place?
  
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- Stoic one
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 8:25pm
  Inject him with several slugs of lead…..his victims have been DEAD for thirty years, and this member of the human race is complaining his execution might hurt on the way out ????????????????
  
  Report this comment
- colt1860
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 8:29pm
  Where was his concern for any “physical and psychological pain” when he murdered his victim. He ain’t care then, and we don’t care now. I’m pretty sure a 357 magnum round would do the job wonderfully. No need to spend thousands of dollars to end the life of a low life degenerate. America is becoming a sissy nation. Bunch of pansies really. We can’t even execute a convicted murderer before he gets too fat by the food we feed him in prison? LOL. No wonder the world laughs at us. Lord have mercy on us.
  
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- Wolfgang the Gray
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 8:42pm
  Simple, cheap, and effective solution to this problem. One .50BMG round to center of mass. End of story. If he dies in pain, then that is his payment for killing the hotel clerk.
  
  As for his weight, again we see proof of government having a spending problem. They throw away our tax dollars giving this guy extra food (lots of extra food) so he can plump up to grimmace proportions.
  
  Report this comment
- Leadthemtothelight
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 8:45pm
  Increase the dose. Problem solved. I hope he made peace with God.
  
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- RossPoldark
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 8:51pm
  How about an elephant gun. Yup, that’ll do’er
  
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- banjarmon
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 9:14pm
  Put the fat SOB in a big hole then shoot him. It would save the backs of the people that would have to carry him!!!
  
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- sillyfreshness
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 9:16pm
  I don’t believe in the death penalty. If murder is illegal, then the state shouldn’t be allowed to murder either. Plus it’s applied unfairly.
  
  Report this comment
- Gorp
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 9:21pm
  “Indeed, given his unique physical and medical condition there is a substantial risk that any attempt to execute him will result in serious physical and psychological pain to him, as well as an execution involving a torturous and lingering death,” the filing said.
  
  AWWW. Poor Baby. I guess he shouldn’t have shot the hotel clerk then.
  
  Report this comment
- Kaoscontrol
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 9:30pm
  According to Michelle Obama, obesity is killing us. I guess it’s not working in this guy’s case.
  
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- floridareader
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 9:33pm
  Sheriff Joe Arpaio will get him fit and ready for his sentence.
  Send him to Arizona!
  
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- kentuckypatriot
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 9:36pm
  Send him to Mass. and a judge will order he get lap band surgery or something, at tax payers expense, of course!
  
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- highndry
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 9:38pm
  Every day I pray that a state execution job will open up. I would be eating a bologna sandwich while pulling the lever on these people. What exactly do you have to do to deserve a death penalty in the eyes of the justice system? Some of these people plan murders, get video taped committing them while dozens of people witness them and then confess with a sense of pride and still spend millions of tax dollars being defended for decades. What a bunch of H/S our legal system and government has become.
  
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- toto
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 11:51pm
  Sillyfreshness, does your objection the the death penalty as murder apply to abortion as well? If the death penalty is ever abolished, it should certainly apply to innocent babies.
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:10am
  My first question as well.
  
  Report this comment
- edcoil
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 12:58pm
  Take him out the same way he took out his victim. He does not believe that was cruel.
  
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- colt1860
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 2:30pm
  If you’re against the death penalty, you’re silly. Next time someone rapes and murders your daughter or wife, how about you feed that maniac, cloth him, house him, and give him books to read on your dime, resources and time. The citizenry shouldn’t have to pay a penny to serve such degenerates. Either give them exact justice, or put them to hard labor. Enough with the holding hands with criminals non sense. The feminist movement and h-mosexual agenda really has made Americans a bunch of sissies. Enough.
  
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Hugh Williams
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:51pm
One round to the back of the head would be quick and his weight would not be a factor. He shot and killed a woman so it would be poetic justice.

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- Walkabout
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:58pm
  That is the way they do it China. I thought it was pretty gruesome for drug trafficking. But for a murder who claims he is too fat, it is just the ticket.
  
  If he gets away with it, many other murderers will purposefully become obese.
  
  I really don’t like your comment about 1 round. For some one trying to game the system, they should make a complete mess of his head. A bloody, shredded stump above the shoulders would be appropriate.
  
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- Exrepublisheep
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 8:02pm
  Agreed…agreed.
  
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- KenInIL
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 8:49pm
  Dig an extra large grave, have him get in and get comfortable, then cover him up. A bullet is optional. No one will know if he suffered — unless of course they bury a camera and mike with him to get the blow by blow.
  
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ONEOFMILLIONS
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:48pm
Put a sleeping pill in his fried chicken then use a forklift as a gurney for the execution. Problem solved!!!!!!

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- Zipit
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 9:29pm
  I say, “death by deep fryer”, or, French fried fu(I:……..
  
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Eastinfection
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:47pm
Too Big to Fail.

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RJJinGadsden
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:47pm
Cattle slaughter house, use on of those hydraulic retractable spike drivers. Very rapid and efficient.

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- Chromo200
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 8:14pm
  Wow .. Tough Tough But good.
  
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- The-Monk
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 8:22pm
  Hi RJJ,
  
  Sounds like a job for…… dunt dunt daaaaaaaa, Capt Bloomberg!!!!
  
  Just send him to NYC. ; > )
  
  Report this comment
KickinBack
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:42pm
Send in Hillary and Pelosi –together– into his cell…Then tell them a joke. The ensuing cackle would well do the trick.

Oh wait, the idea is for it to be painless? Then scratch that.

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Raven249
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:42pm
A 3 ounce cranial injection of lead should suffice.

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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:40pm
Put him on a fried butter, fried twinkie, and mayo milkshake diet. And slip in some olestra, with a big dose of laxative. Maybe if the clogged arteries don’t get him, he will crap himself to death, or beg for the needle.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:50pm
  DARMOK, LOL, I remember a TV stand up comic back in the early ’70s. The guy was huge. Said when he reported to the draft board they told him to go home to try and loose some weight, then report back at a specific time. His reply was “So, I returned home and went on that special beer and doughnuts diet.” Sounds about the same. But hey, that fried butter sounds good if it’s been breaded.
  
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- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 8:07pm
  If they just hide the poison in a doughnut, he would be dead by tomorrow morning.
  
  I remember that comedian, I can’t think of his name. I guess that is one way to get out of the draft.
  
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kaydeebeau
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:38pm
I think a 50 caliber will cut thru lots of flab……

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ColoradoMaverick
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:38pm
I have a simple solution: Starve him to death.

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- TIME_THE_AVENGER
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 1:42am
  Ding, ding, ding……
  
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perry1980
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:38pm
How do you weigh over 400 lbs in jail
What are we feeding these people?
Bread and water for a month should get you “light” enough for death.

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- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:56pm
  @Perry:
  Wow, you got spammed, maybe the girl with the laptop should contact the murderer, she may help him lose a few pounds, her friend has twin toddlers, that takes a lot of energy.
  
  Who are these idiots that come on this site and peddle that crap, and who falls for the “Work at home, get rich” schemes.
  
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korbin
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:37pm
You see even in prison you can gourd yourself to obesity only in America. It is against their civl liberty to have them work on a chain gang or exercise for that matter.

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Stelex
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:35pm
This is the kind of thing that causes strokes in normal folk, a .45 to the brains stem takes no time and costs around .50 cents. But no, we will spend millions to examine this millions more to come up with a civil way to kill this murderer. The time has come folks………this country is losing its collective mind and it is time to stop it. I can’t get through a single day without someone trying to convince me insanity is the new norm. WTF

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doggsforromney
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:33pm
put him on the biggest loser show….then kill his ass….

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dickdastardly
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:33pm
Insert the needle in his jugular…or death by firing squad…he won’t feel it long

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grayling646
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:32pm
I’d put him on that new fangled electron diet.

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- Stelex
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:37pm
  Or that new fangled Tie they put around your neck, no extra weight needed.
  
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- godhatesacoward
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 8:16pm
  Now stelex, you know that would be cruel on the guy running the fork-lift, right?! POP! “I told you, damnit!”
  
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13th Imam
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:31pm
Base Jump No parachute

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- texastommy
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 12:06pm
  That’s what I was thinking. Take him up in a helicopter, toss him out from 10,000 feet over the ocean. My wife thinks he should be set on fire first, but I told her the wind would probably put it out on the way down. Put the whole thing on Youtube.
  
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U.N.hater
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:30pm
Cut one of his wrist’s then throw him in a pen of hog’s.Won’t even have to pay for a funrel. There won’t be anything left……

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Armyduderetired
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:30pm
Sic Michele O. On him! He could be the poster child for the new comercial about the horrors of horrible prison system that forces you to over eat. And just think of all those PSA’s talking about starving Americans. There’s your answer. Go to jail in the union controlled corrections system and the hunger problem is solved.

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godhatesacoward
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:28pm
No you’re not, you pos!

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nobull14
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:28pm
Bring back the Gas chamber that will do the job. ? All he has to do is breathe so he will not have to worry about being injected and it not working right.

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CaveDweller
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:25pm
Inability to limit how much he eats??? He’s in PRISON, right?

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Witness1974
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:24pm
Don’t worry, Ronald, you’ll start losing weight real soon.

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KingDork
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:22pm
well I guess they should force him to use a treadmill for a few hours each day till he either skinny’s up or gets a heart attack.

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The_Jerk
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:20pm
Do to him what he did to an innocent victim. Shoot’em. Case closed.

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- scrudge
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:52pm
  Ah Yes…. best answer yet…. you do the crime… you get it the same way… JERK had it the right way
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 7:57pm
  That’s right. He did after all shoot a hotel clerk. Gary Gilmore did something similar back in ’76. The State of Utah had something waiting for him 17 January 1997. I always hoist a cold one on Gary Gilmore day.
  
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- Wool-Free Vision
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 8:04pm
  Nice to see that you and I can agree on something.
  
  I have never understood why we don’t just put a shotgun barrel against the back of their head and pull the trigger. How can anyone say that lethal injection or electrocution is less painful than that? That’s how I would want it done if I were up for execution. Doesn’t get much more painless, instantaneous, or inexpensive than having your brain turned to soup in a split second.
  
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- Chet Hempstead
  Posted on September 17, 2012 at 8:50pm
  Hang him. His head will come clean off. You can’t get much quicker than that.
  
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