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Death row since Gov. Ryan's commutations
By The Associated Press

2:08 PM CDT, June 27, 2008

Since former Gov. George Ryan emptied death row in 2003 before leaving office, 15 people have been sentenced to death, including one who reportedly killed himself in June.

Here are the dates the inmates were placed on death row, followed by their name and a brief description of the crime for which they were convicted:

1) Feb. 23, 2003 -- Anthony Mertz, for the rape, killing and mutilation of an Eastern Illinois University student.

2) Aug. 5, 2003 -- Curtis Thompson, for killing a Stark County deputy and two neighbors. He died June 6, 2008 after he apparently committed suicide.

3) April 26, 2004 -- Ricardo Harris, after conviction for killing two Oak Lawn liquor store employees and hurting two people during a robbery.

4) April 26, 2004 -- Teodoro Baez, for killing two people and dismembering their bodies with a samurai sword after a drug dispute.

5) June 16, 2004 -- Cecil Sutherland, for sexually assaulting and killing a 10-year-old Marion County girl.

6) August 17, 2004 -- Andrew Urdiales, for the murder of a 21-year-old Hammond woman.

7) July 11, 2005 -- Joseph Bannister, after conviction for shooting his ex-girlfriend and killing her sister.

June 6, 2006 -- Paul Runge, for raping, killing and setting on fire a mother and her 10-year-old daughter.

9) Sept. 25, 2006 -- Dion Banks, for killing a woman during a carjacking.

10) Oct. 23, 2006 -- Brian Nelson, for beating to death his ex-girlfriend, her father, her brother and the father's girlfriend and setting them on fire.

11) Feb. 15, 2007 -- Laurence Lovejoy, for raping and killing his stepdaughter.

12) May 23, 2007 -- Daniel Ramsey, after conviction for raping and killing a girl, shooting to death another girl and hurting three other people.

13) Aug. 8, 2007 -- Rodney Atkin, for killing an Oak Park woman after breaking into her home.

14) March 21, 2008 -- Gary Pate, for killing his wife and stepdaughter.

15) May 1, 2008 -- Eric Hanson, for killing his sister and brother-in-law and his parents.

Source: News archives and the Illinois Department of Corrections



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