Gov. John Kasich.
Photo: J.D. Pooley/2011 Getty Images
Ohio Governor John Kasich has delayed the execution of Ronald Phillips, which was scheduled for Thursday, to consider his last-minute request to donate his organs. Phillips, who was convicted of raping and killing his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter in 1993, asked on Monday to donate a kidney to his mother and his heart to his sister, with his attorney insisting it wasn’t a delay tactic. Corrections officials initially refused due to logistical concerns, but Kasich rescheduled the execution for July 2. The governor explained, “I realize this is a bit of uncharted territory for Ohio, but if another life can be saved by his willingness to donate his organs and tissues then we should allow for that to happen.”
