Gregory Esparza v. Ed Sheldon

OPINION

SUTTON, Circuit Judge.

Three decades ago, Gregory Esparza murdered Melanie Gerschultz for just over a hundred dollars in cash. An Ohio jury sentenced him to death. After the Ohio state courts refused to alter his sentence, Esparza unsuccessfully sought habeas relief in federal district court. Because the Ohio courts reasonably rejected his claims, we affirm.

I

On February 12, 1988, Melanie Ger-schultz and James Barailloux were work ing the night shift at a Toledo restaurant when Gregory Esparza walked inside. Wearing a ski mask and brandishing a gun, he ordered someone to open the…