The Latest: Condemned Ohio killer ‘in good spirits, calm’

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Latest on Ohio’s plan to execute a killer for a 1985 slaying (all times local):

4:10 p.m.

An Ohio prisons spokeswoman says a condemned killer is “in good spirits and calm” a day ahead of his scheduled execution.

Spokeswoman JoEllen Smith also says a Tuesday morning medical check didn’t find problems with the veins of death row inmate Robert Van Hook.

Smith says Van Hook’s last meal, called a special meal in Ohio, includes double cheeseburgers, fries, strawberry cheese cake with whipped cream, a vanilla milkshake and grapefruit juice.

The 58-year-old Van Hook is scheduled to die by lethal injection Wednesday morning for stabbing and strangling David Self in Cincinnati in 1985. Prosecutors say Van Hook made a practice of luring gay men to apartments to rob them.

Smith says execution witnesses will include Self’s brother, sister and brother-in-law.

___

11:15 a.m.

A condemned Ohio killer has arrived at the state death house a day ahead of his scheduled execution.

The Department of Rehabilitation and Correction transported inmate Robert Van Hook from death row in Chillicothe (chihl-ih-KAHTH’-ee) on Tuesday to the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville. Van Hook arrived shortly before 10 a.m.

Prisons spokeswoman JoEllen Smith says Van Hook will begin receiving visitors late in the afternoon. He’ll also receive a last meal, called a special meal in Ohio. He has no remaining appeals.

The 58-year-old Van Hook is scheduled to die Wednesday morning for stabbing and strangling David Self in Cincinnati in 1985. Prosecutors say Van Hook made a practice of luring gay men to apartments to rob them.

___

12:05 a.m.

Ohio is beginning preparations to execute a condemned killer for a three-decades-old fatal stabbing.

The Department of Rehabilitation and Correction plans to transport inmate Robert Van Hook from death row in Chillicothe (chihl-ih-KAHTH’-ee) on Tuesday to the state death house at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville.

The 58-year-old Van Hook is scheduled to die Wednesday morning for stabbing and strangling David Self in Cincinnati in 1985. Prosecutors say Van Hook made a practice of luring gay men to apartments to rob them.

Republican Gov. John Kasich (KAY’-sihk) rejected Van Hook’s request for clemency, and the inmate does not have any appeals pending.

Van Hook’s attorneys say they were disappointed the governor didn’t give more weight to the inmate’s military service and childhood physical, mental and sexual abuse.