Romell Broom
Encyclopedia
Romell Broom is an American
convicted of murder
, kidnapping
, and rape
. He was convicted in 1984 of abducting and killing Tryna Middleton, age 14, who was walking home from a football
game in East Cleveland, Ohio
. In 2003, Broom took up an offer from the state of Ohio for a DNA
test to prove his innocence—however, the test results failed to prove his innocence. The clemency hearing concluded that "the DNA report does not indicate an exact match, but does indicate that the likelihood of Broom [not] being the donor is 1 in 2.3 million. Otherwise stated, eight or nine other black males in the country would have the same profile."
Broom also has convictions for robbery
, aggravated robbery and four counts of kidnap of a male child. He was also convicted in a separate incidence of raping a female child.
issued a one-week reprieve. Broom's lawyers argue that his first execution attempt was cruel and unusual punishment
, and that executing him would mean that his evidence would be "irretrievably lost" for their broader lawsuit challenging the constitutionality
of Ohio’s lethal injection procedure. U.S. District Court
Judge Gregory L. Frost
scheduled a 30 November 2009 hearing on the issues. As of June 2010, Broom was awaiting the outcome of an appeal.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
convicted of murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
, and rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
. He was convicted in 1984 of abducting and killing Tryna Middleton, age 14, who was walking home from a football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
game in East Cleveland, Ohio
East Cleveland, Ohio
East Cleveland is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, and is the first suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. The population was 17,843 at the 2010 census....
. In 2003, Broom took up an offer from the state of Ohio for a DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
test to prove his innocence—however, the test results failed to prove his innocence. The clemency hearing concluded that "the DNA report does not indicate an exact match, but does indicate that the likelihood of Broom [not] being the donor is 1 in 2.3 million. Otherwise stated, eight or nine other black males in the country would have the same profile."
Broom also has convictions for robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
, aggravated robbery and four counts of kidnap of a male child. He was also convicted in a separate incidence of raping a female child.
Aborted execution
Broom was scheduled to be executed on 15 September 2009. However, the executioners tried for two hours to maintain an IV line through which they could inject the lethal drugs, before Ohio Governor Ted StricklandTed Strickland
Theodore "Ted" Strickland was the 68th Governor of Ohio, serving from 2007 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives, representing ....
issued a one-week reprieve. Broom's lawyers argue that his first execution attempt was cruel and unusual punishment
Cruel and unusual punishment
Cruel and unusual punishment is a phrase describing criminal punishment which is considered unacceptable due to the suffering or humiliation it inflicts on the condemned person...
, and that executing him would mean that his evidence would be "irretrievably lost" for their broader lawsuit challenging the constitutionality
Constitutionality
Constitutionality is the condition of acting in accordance with an applicable constitution. Acts that are not in accordance with the rules laid down in the constitution are deemed to be ultra vires.-See also:*ultra vires*Company law*Constitutional law...
of Ohio’s lethal injection procedure. U.S. District Court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
Judge Gregory L. Frost
Gregory L. Frost
Gregory Lynn Frost is a United States federal judge.Born in Newark, Ohio, Frost received a B.A. from Wittenberg University in 1971 and a J.D. from Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law in 1974. He was an Assistant prosecuting attorney of Licking County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Ohio...
scheduled a 30 November 2009 hearing on the issues. As of June 2010, Broom was awaiting the outcome of an appeal.