Convicted Child Murderer's Execution Date In 2015

Jeffrey Wogenstahl

Ohio Department of Corrections

Amber Garrett

file photo

(Harrison, Oh.) – A man who has spent almost 20 years on Ohio’s death row for kidnapping and killing a Harrison girl will be put to death in 2015.

Jeffrey Wogenstahl was convicted in 1995 for the murder of 10-year-old Amber Garrett. The young girl was taken from her home by Wogenstahl, an acquaintance of Garrett’s mother, on November 24, 1991. While friends and family held out hope she would surface, police investigators new something was amiss as Garrett's glasses and coat were left in her room.

It was one of the most unspeakable crimes in the tri-state’s history. Wogenstahl stabbed Amber in the chest multiple times before beating her with a car jack handle. Her body was found dumped in Bright off of Jamison Road a few days later.

Following his arrest and conviction, a jury was persuaded to sentence Wogenstahl to death.

On Friday, the Ohio Supreme Court announced that Wogenstahl, now 52-years-old, will be executed on May 14, 2015. The execution has been held up by a number of appeals from the killer.

In February 2012, U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled that comments made by prosecutors during the sentencing portion of Wogenstahl’s 1995 trial were improper, but not enough to remove Wogenstahl from death row.

Wogenstahl has contended that he did not commit the murder, but – years after the murder – DNA tests done on blood found in his car determined it belonged to Garrett.

Amber Garrett would have turned 32-years-old last October.