Indiana Death Row inmate issues
final statement before execution

By Mary Ann Wyand

Indiana Death Row inmate Gregory Scott Johnson issued a brief written statement before his execution by chemical injection on May 25 at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, Ind.

Johnson had hoped to donate part of his liver to his sister, Debra Otis of Anderson, Ind., before his execution for the June 23, 1985, murder of 82-year-old Ruby Hutslar of Anderson, Ind.

He also was convicted of setting Hutslar’s house on fire following a burglary at her home.

In the statement, Johnson noted that, “There are those who claim that Debbie will have a new liver in three weeks after being placed on the list. I’ll be waiting from above and expect her to be recuperating at that time.”

Johnson also wrote that, “In denying clemency, it was reported that the Indiana Parole Board ‘scoffed’ at the idea of organ donation. They felt that I was not sincere and there had been no change from the Gregory Scott Johnson of 20 years ago.

“I can understand those sentiments coming from Mrs. Hutslar’s family, but am puzzled that it would come from a government board,” he wrote. “If you refuse to acknowledge any change or any attempts to change, then you are shredding a portion of the Indiana Constitution, Article I, Sec. 19: ‘The penal code shall be based upon principles of reformation and not vindictive justice.’ ”

Johnson also thanked “all of you for your prayers” and said he would “see you on the other side.”

Deacon Malcolm Lunsford of the Gary Diocese and Holy Cross Father Thomas McNally of Notre Dame, Ind., ministered to Johnson during his final years on Indiana’s Death Row.

In an e-mail statement to The Criterion, Deacon Lunsford said he spent Johnson’s final 12 hours with him at the state penitentiary.

“We had some very good sharing in his last 12 hours on earth,” Deacon Lunsford said. “I was his spiritual director, but it was more than that. I have lost a friend.”

Deacon Lunsford said Johnson “made it easy for us. Father Tom and I spent every moment with him [that] the DOC [state Department of Correction] allowed us. We had to leave him twice while they did their thing, whatever that is, but when we returned he was all smiles again.”

He said when they returned to the viewing area the last time, Johnson “was lying on the [execution] table looking for us. He gave us a broad smile and the ‘thumbs up’ sign. Then he was gone.

“If anyone was/is ever truly ready to go meet Jesus,” Deacon Lunsford said, “it certainly has to have been Gregory Scott Johnson.”

On May 24, Gov. Mitch Daniels denied Johnson’s clemency petition and the Indiana Supreme Court also refused to commute his sentence to life in prison without parole or to allow him extra time to donate a portion of his liver to his sister, who suffers from a nonalcoholic type of cirrhosis of the liver and needs a transplant.

Johnson was executed by lethal injection at 12:28 a.m. on May 25 at the prison.

During a May 20 hearing at the Indiana Government Center in Indianapolis, the Indiana Parole Board voted 4-0 to recommend that Gov. Daniels not grant clemency for Johnson.

In a press release, Gov. Daniels said that, “after his own independent study and review, he found no grounds to second-guess years of court rulings or to reject the recommendation of the parole board.

“The advice of medical experts, including Debra Otis’ own specialist, was definitive that she should not pursue a procedure with Mr. Johnson as donor,” the governor said, “but rather will be better served by accepting transplanted organs through the conventional process.”

Johnson joined the Catholic Church four years ago while incarcerated on Death Row. †