Convicted killer Kenneth Biros was described as quiet and calm by Southern Ohio Correctional Facility officials Monday afternoon.
At 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, the jail warden will read him his death warrant, and preparations for his execution will begin. If it moves forward as scheduled, it will be witnessed by the family of Tami Engstrom, the woman he brutally raped and murdered in 1991.
He is set to become the first person in the country put to death with one dose of an intravenous anesthetic vs. the prior three-drug process. His execution is set for 10 a.m.
Members of the media, Biros' attorney and Trumbull County Sheriff Thomas Altiere will also witness the execution. Under Ohio Revised Code, the sheriff of the county that tried and convicted an inmate is able to witness an execution. Altiere has elected to witness, said officials.
During a press conference Monday afternoon, officials said Biros arrived at the Lucasville facility at 9:57 a.m that morning. He underwent medical and mental screenings before calling his sister about 1 p.m. and taking a nap at 1:30 p.m.
In his cell, officials said, Biros had religious books, seven CDs and a CD player. He met with some clergy throughout Monday, said officials, and had a chance to meet with family members between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.
At 7:30 p.m, he was set to have his last "special meal." He chose a meal very similar to the one selected the last time he was in the Death House two years ago: a cheese pizza, fried mushrooms, onion rings, Doritos, French onion dip, blueberry ice cream, Dr. Pepper and cherry pie. He will have a standard inmate breakfast Tuesday morning.
Biros was issued a last-minute stay of execution in March 2007 so he could present arguments against lethal injection. Biros has filed several other appeals through the years. Gov. Ted Strickland denied him clemency -- for the second time -- last week. A federal judge Monday denied an emergency delay after Biros challenged the new injection method.
In Monday's ruling, U.S. District Judge Gregory Frost said Ohio's execution system still has flaws that "raise profound concerns and present unnecessary risks." However, Frost said it appears unlikely that Biros can show those risks violate the U.S. Constitution.
Kenneth Biros was convicted of the 1991 rape, murder and dismemberment of 22-year-old Tammy Engstrom of Hubbard. Her body parts were spread across Ohio and Pennsylvania.
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