Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

                                               NEWS RELEASE                                                              

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                           February 12, 2002

EXECUTION OF JOHN W. BYRD

(Columbus) – The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) confirmed that John W. Byrd (#175145) is scheduled for execution by lethal injection on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 at 10:00 a.m.  The Ohio Revised Code mandates lethal injection as the manner of execution.  The execution will take place at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, Ohio.

Inmate Byrd was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1983 murder of Monte Tewksbury in Hamilton County, Ohio.

Background Facts:

Name:                         John William Byrd, Jr.

Race:                          Caucasian

DOB:                          12/18/63

Crime:                        Aggravated Murder, Aggravated Robbery and Abduction

County of Commitment:   Hamilton

Date of Admission:   8/23/83

No word has been received regarding any stay of execution.  This advisory is being distributed in compliance with the DRC execution policy.

For further information please contact the DRC Public Information Office at (614) 752-1150.