Ohio man is first executed with lone dose of pentobarbital
Johnnie Baston was convicted of the murder of a Toledo store owner.
March 10th, 2011
12:50 PM ET

Ohio man is first executed with lone dose of pentobarbital

Johnnie Baston on Thursday became the first person in the United States executed with the single-dose drug pentobarbital.

Pentobarbital, a barbiturate that has been used in animal euthanasia and as a mild anesthetic in humans, was used in a U.S. execution for the first time in December, when it was administered as the first drug in a three-drug cocktail used in a lethal injection given to an Oklahoma inmate.

Sodium thiopental is the normal drug used in such lethal injections, but a nationwide shortage of the chemical has forced some states to scramble for possible substitutes.

In 2009, Ohio became the first state to perform an execution with a single drug, using a single dose of sodium thiopental.

Baston was pronounced dead at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Southern Ohio Correctional Institution in Lucasville, the state Department of Corrections said.

He received the death sentenced for the 1994 murder of Toledo store owner Chong Hoon Mah, a South Korean immigrant who was shot in the head at close range.

“For a long time I didn’t see a lot of value in myself,’’ Baston said Thursday in the death chamber, the Toledo Blade reported. “It wasn’t until this moment, till I had to go through this ordeal, that I have seen so much love from so many people, letters from people all over the world, and even Ohio.’’

 Post by:
Filed under: Crime • Death Penalty • Ohio
soundoff (464 Responses)
  1. Mojo

    This is so sad, I feel sad for the Korean and also for the inmate who got executed. Lot of people compare the inmate to everyday Joe or Bob, people who kill other people are brought to this stage by the society, he probably had a rough childhood, lot of abuses which causes one person to loose their sympathy for others, they become selfish and doesnt realize of have the capability to do so.

    I think a correct punishment for this is to make them work in prison, the money generated through their work should be given to the society to fix this kind of problems, good schooling and funding for orphanages etc. Its just another waste of life, instead he should have been made to pay for his deeds, This will also give the prisoner time to reflect on his crime and actually give him and oppurtunity to give back to the society.

    March 14, 2011 at 11:20 am | Report abuse |
  2. Johnna

    One more down and a whole lot more to go!!!!!!!

    March 14, 2011 at 1:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • My Opinion

      totally agree.

      March 14, 2011 at 4:02 pm | Report abuse |
  3. markus

    Maybe the means of execution should match the means of the murder.

    March 14, 2011 at 2:18 pm | Report abuse |
  4. ken536

    He doesn't look like a asian youth to me.

    March 14, 2011 at 2:23 pm | Report abuse |
  5. bp

    The bodies of executed prisoners should be used for organ transplants. Tens of thousands of people are dying for lack of replacement organs every year and will take anything they can get if it's a choice between life and death. And in this way, a murderer might end up saving more lives than he took.

    March 14, 2011 at 2:40 pm | Report abuse |
  6. sj

    We all feel bad when thing happen to the young are old so we need to make up our mind if we ae going to live in fear are do something about , these criminal need to be put to death if they kills are hurt kids it is an out war on our childrenand don`t forget the woman they are during thing that make no since, it time to stop them we need to take our life back,they know you will be paying for aroom and three square meal a day and they set up and file paper in the system about there rigths ,we give them that they will tell it to these young men what can you do anything less "abuse ha ha

    March 14, 2011 at 3:09 pm | Report abuse |
  7. sj

    what is wrong with you people if he on death row he done something to get there ,you have more you crimnial that are doing the unthinkable these day wait until he get 21 and stick his a!!!!!!!!!!!!

    March 14, 2011 at 3:14 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Mike1956will

    Capital Punishment is not meant to be a deterent. I is meant to be used as a PUNISHMENT. That's why it's not called Capital Deterent!!!

    March 14, 2011 at 3:52 pm | Report abuse |
  9. My Opinion

    I agree, rope is cheap. let's get on with it. why is Charles Manson still around getting 3 meals a day and medical treatment and access to a library? his sorry a$$ needed to be hung 20 yrs ago

    March 14, 2011 at 4:00 pm | Report abuse |
  10. bigsk8fan

    i can't help but notice that it took 17 years to carry out the death sentence. just about as long as the average life sentence.

    March 14, 2011 at 4:17 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Canadian

    There is no hope of America becoming a civilized nation in the near future is there? Their citizens require much more education before this will happen. So sad, social conservatism only leads to situations like what is happening in the middle east, and a very ignorant population.

    March 14, 2011 at 4:43 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Lloyd

    We kill people to show people that killing people is wrong.

    March 14, 2011 at 6:01 pm | Report abuse |
  13. bnjmn375

    I am a Democrat and I consider myself pretty liberal, but in this one area I'm with the conservatives. People always say that its wrong to kill, or that the death penalty dosen't deter criminals. To that I say yep, it was wrong for that man to kill someone and I assure you he is now permanently detered from ever doing it again.

    March 14, 2011 at 6:46 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Orange Sunshyne

    Hope he is enjoying hell.

    March 14, 2011 at 6:55 pm | Report abuse |
  15. wowlfie

    Why not use it on all the illegals held in jails? They are animals and wasting our resources!

    March 14, 2011 at 11:09 pm | Report abuse |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
« Back to main