Death on Page 256

Page 249 of the 632-page binder of materials related to the execution procedures at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections could easily be missed by people who are leafing through. The documents were released in December by court-order (see "The Perfect Murder" in CityBeat's current issue) and available on the Ohio ACLU Web site.

The section called “Tab 5: Timelines” could mean just about anything, but page 249 is the beginning of the end of the life of “Inmate Berry.”  This is an excerpt of the original unit log (ICS-214) “Incident name: Operation Volunteer.”

_______________

07:58 p.m.    Warden (name deleted), Deputy Warden (name deleted) and Deputy Warden (name deleted) entered the Death House.
08:18 p.m.    Inmate Berry entered Death House.
08:28 p.m.    Warden (name deleted) left a package of Marlboro as requested by Inmate Berry who had not smoked in around 18 months.
08:29 p.m.    Inmate Berry asked about the outcome of the Stephen King movie and was given fresh black coffee.
08:41 p.m.    (name deleted) explained the procedures on the last meal: Lasagna, garlic bread, cheesecake and Pepsi.
08:57 p.m.    (name deleted) took Inmate Berry’s blood pressure: 130/80; pulse: 84.
09:25 p.m.     Inmate Berry talked to (name deleted) about procedure.
10:56 p.m.    Inmate Berry laid down and the lights were turned out. He stated he was going to get some sleep.
01:08 a.m.     Inmate Berry sleeping.

05:22 a.m.    Inmate Berry up, talking, and given a cup of coffee.
05:25 a.m.    Inmate Berry makes his bed and gets dressed.
07:15 a.m.    Served Inmate Berry breakfast: boiled egg, cereal, juice, bread and milk.
07:45 a.m.     (name deleted) reported to command center to report on medical assessment and view medical file; made determination Inmate is currently prescribed Dimetapp for sinus congestion, Prilosec 20 mg. for acid reflux, Midrin for migraines 2 tabs P.O.PRN for headache.
10:45 a.m.    Warden (name deleted) and (name deleted) escorted Cindy Yost to Death House to visit Inmate Berry.
10:45 a.m.    Operations reports that overall climate of Institution is normal. Inmates are not questioning process; normal reactions.
11:20 a.m.    Two blankets into Death House for Ms Yost to sit on.
11:40 a.m.     Ms. Yost reading from Bible to Inmate Berry.
12:15 p.m.    Inmate Berry was given pink Pepto Bismol for upset stomach.
01:30 p.m.    Inmate Berry talking about how calm he is (and) what music he likes.
02:35 p.m.    U.S. Supreme Court denied appeal.
02:35 p.m.    Inmate Berry was given Gelusil for stomach.
02:50 p.m.    Inmate Berry, Ms. Yost, Warden (name deleted) discussing media coverage.
03:00 p.m.    Last meal given to inmate Berry by (name deleted)…
04:47 p.m.    (name deleted) called (name deleted) to have family brought to Death House for visit (mother and sister).
05:30 p.m.    Warden (name deleted) called Command Center to confirm (name deleted) had given Inmate Berry medication for upset stomach and headache. Inmate Berry also requested a sedative. (name deleted) is in the process of processing the prescription for the sedative.
06:45 p.m.    IV Team and (name deleted) enters Death House.
07:25 p.m.    Lt. Woodford, OSP, stated there are approximately 75 protesters and 25 supporters in the parking lot. No incidents to report.
07:38 p.m.    Three (3) victim witnesses arrive (name deleted), (name deleted), (name deleted). Two victim coordinators from DRC arrive: Karen Ho, and Ron Olah.
08:00 p.m.    Warden briefed Inmate family witnesses.
08:02 pm.    (name deleted) administered 10 mg. of Valium to Inmate Berry.
08:10 p.m.    (name deleted) escorted physician into Death House.
08:44 p.m.    OSP Capt. Meredith states protesters crowd is approximately 200+ and growing.
09:00 p.m.     Warden reading Death Warrant.
09:03 p.m.    Inmate escorted into the execution chamber.
09:03 p.m.    Inmate being strapped down.
09:04 p.m.    Inmate secure at this time.
09:07 p.m.    Having difficulty getting IV started per Major.
09:13 p.m.    One arm established, left arm.
09:22 p.m.     IV’s up and running….
09:24 p.m.    Group 1 (inmate witnesses) at Death House Door. Group 2 (victim witnesses and media) crossing the yard.
09:26 p.m.    Step 1 begin.
09:26 p.m.     Step 1 complete.
09:26 p.m.    Step 2 begin.
09:27 p.m.     Step 2 complete.
09:27 p.m.    Step 3 begin.
09:28 p.m.     Step 3 complete.
09:28 p.m.    Step 4 begin.
09:28 p.m.     Step 4 complete.
09:28 p.m.    Step 5 begin.
09:29 p.m.     Step 5 complete.
09:29 p.m.    Step 6 begin.
09:29 p.m.     Step 6 complete.
09:30 p.m.    Administration of drugs complete.
09:30 p.m.    Curtains closing on execution chamber.
09:30 p.m.    Physician entering execution chamber.
09:31 p.m.    Physician leaving execution chamber.
09:31 p.m.    Curtains open in execution chamber
09:31 p.m.    Inmate Berry pronounced dead at 9:31 by physician, per Warden (name deleted)
10:02 p.m.    Debriefing as follows in the Small Training Room.

Warden (name deleted): “I Appreciate the way all things have been handles these past couple of weeks. I want you to know I’m proud of all of you.”

Director Wilkinson: “When duty calls, you all met the challenge. We are proud of your participation, whatever role you performed, to make the process go well.

“I have been in communication with the Governor, and he asked me to let you know that is proud of your participation and performance, not only tonight, but in the past two weeks. Very proud of you and your roles, not only as employees of the department, but as citizens of Ohio.”

_________

I’m not sure what that last sentence means: How is it possible to be proud of one person for participating in taking the life of another person when the person they just help killed was put to death for taking the life of another person? And how does that make someone a citizen to be proud of? The logic escapes me.

This portion of the eight pages documents the last day of Wilford Berry, the first person in Ohio to be put to death since the death penalty became legal in 1981. He was convicted of killing his employer and waived a series of appeal and chose to die by lethal injection. The state obliged on Feb. 19, 1999.

— Margo Pierce

Comments

[Gregory Flannery]

The details are painful to read, as they should be. The meticulous methodology — bureaucrats arrive, "medical" personnel are involved, medication is administered to the man about to be killed — is evocative of the Third Reich's system for exterminating the Jews of Europe. Procedures must be followed — and when they are, the participants are able to take comfort in the fact that they were only doing their jobs. It's all made complete by the perverse congratulations delivered at the end. Thank you for making us take a look at this madness perpetrated in our names.