Capital Punishment in Ohio - Capital Offenses

Capital Offenses

Aggravated murder with at least one of the following special circumstances:

• The defendant knowingly created a grave risk of death for one or more persons in addition to the victim of the offense.
• The murder was committed for pecuniary gain or pursuant to an agreement that the defendant would receive something of value.
• The capital offense was committed by a person who is incarcerated, has escaped, is on probation, is in jail, or is under a sentence of imprisonment.
• The offender in the commission of the offense, purposefully caused the death of another who was under thirteen years of age at the time of the commission of the offense and the defendant committed the offense with prior calculation and design.
• The offense was the assassination of the president of the United States or person in line of succession to the presidency, or of the governor or lieutenant governor of this state, or of the president-elect or vice president-elect of the United States, or of the governor-elect of this state, or of a candidate for any of the foregoing offices.
• The murder was committed against a witness in a criminal proceeding to prevent the witness from appearing, or for revenge.
• The offense was committed while the offender was committing, attempting to commit, or fleeing immediately after committing or attempting to commit terrorism.