Austin Myers: Judge upholds death penalty sentence

Austin Myers

LEBANON, Ohio – A Warren County judge upheld a jury's decision Thursday to sentence a 19-year-old killer to death. He is now the youngest person on death row in Ohio.

In a previous hearing, the jury recommended Austin Myers be given the death penalty for his role in the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Justin Back.

The jury's decision came after the mother of Austin Myers, 19, pleaded for her son's life.

Myers also asked jurors to spare him on behalf of his family.

"It's only going to cause more pain and suffering for another family," Myers said.

The jury took about six hours to decide he deserved to die and Judge Donald Oda II announced his decision shortly before 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

Myers' mother described a change in her son after she and his father split up.

"When I'm looking at all these pictures, I describe it like my boy - I love him with all my heart - he just has a light in him in all of his pictures and then he doesn't," Danielle Copeland said.

"It's just like a different kid."

Later Myers took the stand.

"It won't hurt me. I won't feel anything," he said. "It's going to hurt more innocent people."

"If there's one thing that anyone of you thinks is a positive in Austin Myers' life, then give him life. Spare his life," said Myers' defense attorney, Greg Howard.

"He should not be punished any more than (Timothy) Mosley will be."

Myers and Mosley were convicted of killing Back in January. Mosley pleaded guilty and testified against Myers in order to avoid the death penalty.

The prosecutor said Myers should die.

"This is is the only just consequences for the choices of Austin Myers. The only just sentence for Austin Myers is a sentence of death," said assistant prosecutor Travis Vieux.

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Source: WCPO, October 16, 2014

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