Ohio Executes Man for Killing His Three Sons, Dies While Making Obscene Gestures

Ohio executed its oldest prisoner today since it resumed executions in 1999, putting to death a 66-year-old man who killed his three sons after his wife filed for divorce.

Carlo Loparo, a spokesperson for the prison, shared that Reginald Brooks refused breakfast on the morning of his execution. He did not show signs of emotional distress, and he died with both hands making an obscene gesture to witnesses.

Brooks was executed for shooting his 11-, 15- and 17-year old sons in their beds on a Saturday morning in 1982 after his wife filed for divorce. His defense tried to prove that he was mentally unstable and suffered from schizophrenia that convinced him that his wife and coworkers where threatening to poison him, according to the Associated Press.

The murderer even tried to prove his innocence by making up an elaborate story about a conspiracy between police, relatives, and a look-alike that tried to make it seem like he was responsible for the shootings.

The jury acknowledged that he had mental issues, but said that it did not excuse him from the indefensible crime he committed.

The mother of the murdered boys said she arrived home to find her sons dead and expressed that she believes Brooks acted out of revenge. She supportedthe decision to put him to death, and witnessed the execution that took place Tuesday morning in Columbus, Ohio.

Further evidence against the plea that he was too incompetent to intentionally cause the killings proved to be the discovery that he had bought the gun two weeks before the incident.

After shooting his sons, Brooks immediately took off on a bus carrying his personal belongings and important documents. Persecutors said the crime was planned well ahead of time and that he should take full responsibility for his actions.