State v. White

{¶ 1} This appeal involves a claim by petitioner-appellant, Clifton White III, that he is mentally retarded and therefore constitutionally ineligible for the death penalty.

{¶ 2} In 1995, White broke up with his girlfriend, Heather Kawczk. Weeks later, White killed Kawczk’s mother and Deborah Thorpe, who was the mother of Kawczk’s new boyfriend, Michael Thorpe. During a subsequent confrontation at Kawczk’s place of employment, White attempted to kill Michael Thorpe. See State v. White (1999), 85 Ohio St.3d 433, 433-434, 709 N.E.2d 140.

{¶ 3} White was sentenced to death for the aggravated…