HARRISBURG – Gov. Edward G. Rendell Wednesday signed warrants for the execution by lethal injection of Mark Spotz, Schuylkill County, and Manuel Sepulveda, Monroe County.
Spotz’s execution is scheduled for Tuesday, July 25; Sepulveda’s for Thursday, July 27.
In March 1996, Spotz was convicted of first-degree murder for the 1995 kidnapping, robbery and shooting of 52-year-old June Ohlinger. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court affirmed Spotz’s sentence on July 20, 1998.
Spotz, 35, filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on April 19, 1999.
Spotz’s execution is scheduled for Tuesday, July 25; Sepulveda’s for Thursday, July 27.
In March 1996, Spotz was convicted of first-degree murder for the 1995 kidnapping, robbery and shooting of 52-year-old June Ohlinger. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court affirmed Spotz’s sentence on July 20, 1998.
Spotz, 35, filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on April 19, 1999.
A petition for post-conviction relief was denied by the state Supreme Court on May 2, 2006.
Spotz was also convicted of voluntary manslaughter on Sept. 26, 1995, for the death of his brother, Dustin, in Clearfield County. Spotz was also convicted of murder in York and Cumberland counties for the deaths of two women, Penny Gunnet and Betty Amstutz.
In November 2002, Manuel Sepulveda, 27, was found guilty in the killings of John Mendez and Ricardo Lopez a year prior. He was sentenced to death in January 2003, a decision that was upheld by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Aug. 19, 2004.
On April 4, 2005, Sepulveda filed a petition for a writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court. Certiorari was denied on Feb. 21, 2006.
On April 4, 2005, Sepulveda filed a petition for a writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court. Certiorari was denied on Feb. 21, 2006.
Both men are inmates at the State Correctional Institution Greene.
Governor Rendell has now signed 55 execution warrants.
Governor Rendell has now signed 55 execution warrants.
Spotz’s inmate profile can be found at: deathrowspeaks.info/inmates/markspotz.html