Jerome Henderson Clemency: The Parole Board's Recommendation

(COLUMBUS) -- The Ohio Parole Board recommended that executive clemency be denied by Governor Bob Taft in the case of Jerome Henderson.

That was the conclusion of a report made public today.

Henderson is scheduled for execution on December 5, 2006 at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility.

Henderson was found guilty of the March 3, 1986 aggravated murder, burglary and attempted rape of Mary Acoff in Cincinnati.  He was convicted of the charges on July 17, 1985.

Acoff was 26 years old at the time.  Jerome Henderson says he did not know the victim but they lived in the same neighborhood.

Henderson has served 256 months in prison.

The Parole Board heard from those who supported clemency and others against.

Shirley Acoff, the victims sister, read a statement from the family which spoke of the drain that the crime has been on the family.  She said the anguish and pain of the crime has not abated in the two decades since the crime.  She also stated that the death of Henderson will not bring back her sister but it will help bring closure.