Convicted murderer Michael Turner resentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole

Posted on 10/26/2023

Defendant: Michael Turner

A three-judge panel of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas removed Michael Turner from death row today, sentencing him to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Judges Julie Lynch, Andria Noble and David Young issued the decision in accordance with Ohio law that prohibits capital punishment for people who were severely mentally ill at the time of their offense.

In January 2003, Turner was sentenced to death for the 2001 murders of his ex-wife and her boyfriend. Last year, Turner filed a petition contending that he is ineligible for execution under Ohio law.

Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 136 into law in January 2021. The law prohibits imposing or enforcing the death penalty on any person who, at the time of the offense, had a serious mental illness that significantly impaired the person’s capacity to exercise rational judgment or appreciate the nature, consequences or wrongfulness of the person’s conduct. Under the law, a person already sentenced to death who qualifies for relief must be resentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole.

Turner submitted an affidavit from a psychiatrist who concluded he was mentally ill at the time of the murders, which qualifies him for relief. The Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office requested a second opinion from a court-appointed psychiatrist. That psychiatrist agreed with the defense’s psychiatrist. Both experts conducted extensive evaluations of Turner and reviewed medical and other records from before the offense to the present.

Given the two experts’ agreement and the lack of viable, factual reasons to oppose Turner’s petition, the prosecutor’s office did not oppose removing Turner from death row and being sentenced to life in prison without parole. The court approved the recommendation on August 11.

“We have a duty to follow the law, and the court has done so in this case,” said Franklin County Deputy Chief Legal Counsel Anthony Pierson. “Our office has had extensive conversations with the family members of both victims. Understandably, this has been painful for them, but they also take some solace in knowing Turner will live the rest of his life in prison.”