Last week, Tammy Engstrom's family traveled to Columbus, urging a state parole board not to grant clemency for Kenneth Biros. Tuesday morning, the parole board's decision means Biros' execution is one step closer to reality. The board unanimously rejected a plea of mercy from Biros, who was convicted of murdering and dismembering Tammi Engstrom of Hubbard back in 1991.
On December 8th, Biros is expected to be the first on Death Row to die with new lethal injection procedures that were put into place last week. "Kenneth Biros is a vicious, psychopathic killer who tortured to death an innocent person. His time has come," said Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins.
Tammy Engstrom's brother, Tom Heiss, says he is looking forward toward gaining some closure. "I'm going to feel like the weight of the world is lifted off my shoulders. It's just time for him to be put to death," Heiss said.
This is the third time the parole board has rejected Clemency for Biros. Executions in Ohio have been on hold since September 15th. Governor Strickland does have the final say in this case, but the department of corrections says it does plan to have the new, single injection procedure fully in place by the time of Biros' execution date.
