Ohio Man Scheduled for Execution Dies in Prison

Edward Edwards, scheduled to die by lethal injection on August 31, 2011, has died of natural causes in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections Medical Center at Columbus.

The 77-year-old serial killer was responsible for at least five murders including his foster son. In 1996, he shot his 25-year-old foster son in the chest with a shotgun to collect a $250,000 insurance policy. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, last year Edwards said, "I'm responsible for it. It didn't work on my conscience. I spent the money. I was having a good time. ... you do it, forget it was done and go about your business until next time."

In 1977 he shot and killed a couple in Ohio and in 1980 he murdered a Wisconsin couple. Ohio has carried out two executions in 2011 and had eight more scheduled including Edwards.

Edwards is the 21st Ohio death row inmate to die of natural causes since the death penalty was reinstated in 1999, reported the Columbus Dispatch. Forty-three inmates have been executed in that time.

To read more: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/06/convicted_murderer_edward_edwa.html