Steven H

Steven H. Oken was put to death by lethal injection in Baltimore shortly after 9 p.m.. Oken's execution is the 1st in Maryland in 6 years. Oken, 42, received his capital sentence for the November 1987 death of Dawn Marie Garvin, whom Oken sexually violated and then shot in the head. 2 weeks later, Oken sexually assaulted and killed Patricia Hirt, before fleeing to Maine, where he then did the same thing to Lori Ward. Oken becomes the 1st condemned inmate to be put to death this year in Maryland and the 4th overall since the state resumed capital punishment in 1994. Oken becomes the 30th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA. (See also April 13, 2001 and February 28, 2003)