USA - Ohio. Gov. Ted Strickland has granted clemency sparing the life of Jeffrey D. Hill.

Gov. Ted Strickland has granted clemency sparing the life of Jeffrey D. Hill. Hill, 44, was to be executed March 3 for murdering his 62-year-old mother, Emma Hill, on March 23, 1991. Based his decision primarily on the unanimous favorable recommendation from the Ohio Parole Board (see Feb. 6), Strickland revoked Hill's death sentence. "I concur with the rationale recommendation of the Ohio Parole Board and have, therefore, decided to commute Mr. Hill's sentence to a term of from 25 years to life," Strickland said in a statement. The board was impressed by what it called the "compelling and unanimous opinion" of the family of the victim that her son and killer should not be put to death. Hill is the 245th death row inmate to receive clemency since 1976 and the 11th in Ohio. Gov. Ryan of Illinois commuted or pardoned the death sentences of 171 inmates in 2003.