Braun confirms execution of Jeffrey Weisheit for 2010 arson murders
The governor rejected a clemency request, clearing the way for a lethal injection this Thursday despite legal challenges regarding the drug supply.
By Claire Castillo ·
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun rejected a clemency request Monday, confirming that the state will execute Jeffrey Weisheit on Thursday. The 50-year-old inmate is sentenced to die by lethal injection for setting a fire in 2010 that killed two children.
Braun, a Republican, stated he is following the recommendation of the Indiana Parole Board to let the death penalty stand. The Department of Correction will proceed with preparations for the court-ordered sentence.
Weisheit is convicted of murder and arson for the deaths of 8-year-old Alyssa Lynch and 5-year-old Caleb Lynch. Their bodies were recovered from the ruins of their Evansville area home. Investigators found Alyssa in a closet and Caleb on a mattress, restrained with duct tape. Railroad flares were located in Caleb's underwear and beneath his body.
The children’s mother, Lisa Lynch, was at work during the incident. Investigators said her relationship with Weisheit was deteriorating at the time. Weisheit acknowledged his guilt during a public hearing on Oct. 16. He argued for a life sentence, stating he wanted to live and improve the lives of other inmates.
Legal challenges remain regarding the execution method. Weisheit’s attorneys argue that the state’s process for acquiring lethal injection drugs requires review. They note that Indiana purchased pentobarbital from a pharmacy currently under scrutiny by the state attorney general. The defense also cited the recent failed execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee, where Gov. Bill Lee ordered a review of the procedure.
Defense counsel further contends that Weisheit’s history of head injuries and mental health issues received insufficient attention during his 2013 trial. They have asked the governor to delay the execution until the drug acquisition process is clarified.
Griffin Reid, a spokesperson for Braun, said the decision-making process is complete. The Department of Correction expressed confidence in its ability to carry out the lawfully imposed sentence humanely.
Source: ABC7 Los Angeles
