Ohio Reschedules Execution of Stanley Fitzpatrick from February 15, 2023, to April 16, 2026

Stanley Fitzpatrick, Ohio

Updated: Monday, February 13, 2023

Stanley L. Fitzpatrick was scheduled to be executed at 10 am local time on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Mansfield, Ohio. Stanley’s execution has been rescheduled to April 16, 2026. Fifty-five-year-old Stanley is convicted of the double murder of 42-year-old Doreatha Hayes and her 12-year-old daughter Shenay Hayes, on June 7, 2001, inside their apartment in Lincoln Heights, Ohio. Stanley is also convicted of murdering his 64-year-old neighbor, Elton Rose, on June 9, 2001.  For the last 20 years, Stanley has been on death row in Ohio. 

Stanley had previously been convicted of a drug-related offense. Since 1996, Stanley was employed at a Formica plant, although he was suspended shortly before the murders.

Doreatha Hayes, and her daughter Shenay, lived with Stanley Fitzpatrick, Doreatha’s boyfriend. On June 7, 2001, Shenay came home from school and discovered Fitzpatrick smoking crack. Fitzpatrick alleged that Shenay then attack him with a knife and was accidentally stabbed, however, a coroner later determined that Shenay had been stabbed three times in the back of her neck, and once near her ear.

After stabbing Shenay, Fitzpatrick ran out of the room, before coming back and striking Shenay repeatedly on the head with an ax handle, fracturing her skull. Fitzpatrick claimed that Shenay was “making sounds,” and that he was trying to silence her. Fitzpatrick also wrapped a ligature around Shenay’s neck before eventually wrapping her in a blanket and carpet and placing her in the bedroom closet. Shenay died due to a combination of her injuries.

Later that night, after Doreatha came home, she and Fitzpatrick got into an argument and Fitzpatrick hit her repeatedly on the head with an ax or ax handle until she stopped making noises. Then he put her in another bedroom and laid a mattress on top of her. Doreatha had at least 13 “chop wounds,” which were consistent with a hatchet later found by police in the basement of the apartment. Blood also connected the hatchet to her murder.

Around 10:30 pm on June 9, 2001, Fitzpatrick rang the doorbell at a neighbor’s home. Betty Rose answered the door and Fitzpatrick said that Doreatha wanted Betty’s husband, Elton, to come over to their apartment. Elton went with Fitzpatrick. Upon entering the apartment, Fitzpatrick attacked and killed Elton. Fitzpatrick again knocked on the neighbor’s door and asked Betty to come over, saying Elton wanted her. Betty refused, asking that Elton first come to the door.

At 10:50 pm, Police Sergeant Deangelo Sumler drove up in his cruiser after a silent 911 call had been placed. Upon seeing Rose and recognizing that she looked distressed, he went and spoke with her. Rose pointed out Fitzpatrick, standing nearby, and pointed out to the sergeant what apartment her husband was in. Sergeant Sumler followed Fitzpatrick into the apartment.

Fitzpatrick pulled a .38-caliber revolver at Sergeant Sumler and ordered him to drop his weapon, even though he had not pulled it. Sergeant Sumler was able to back up to the door, open it, and flee, seeking shelter behind a metal trash can as Fitzpatrick fired at him. Fitzpatrick stole the police cruiser and took off.

Fitzpatrick attacked another woman, and robbed another person of their car. Eventually, Fitzpatrick’s cousin called the police and told them that Fitzpatrick had confessed to him about committing the murders and revealed where police could find Fitzpatrick. Police arrested Fitzpatrick a short time later.

Fitzpatrick initially pled not guilty, however after a jury was selected and during opening statements, Fitzpatrick decided to change his plea to guilty, on all counts, saying he didn’t “want to wait till … the next day or nothing.” Fitzpatrick was eventually sentenced to death.

During Fitzpatrick’s trial, he was diagnosed as having a “substance-induced psychotic disorder and major depression disorder with psychotic features.” Additionally, the doctor who examined Fitzpatrick determined in the months leading up to the murders, changes took place in his brain that resulted in paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations, and when under the influence of drugs or alcohol experience hallucinations and was unable to distinguish between reality and the hallucinations. Allegedly, in the days before the murders, Fitzpatrick was on a “crack binge.”

This is not Fitzpatrick’s first execution date. Due to ongoing problems establishing an execution protocol and obtaining drugs for use in executions, Governor Mike DeWine has issued multiple reprieves, each giving Fitzpatrick a new execution date. Fitzpatrick’s February 15, 2023, execution date has been postponed until April 16, 2026. More information regarding Ohio’s execution problems can be found here.  

Pray for peace and healing for the families of Doreatha and Shenay Hayes, and Ethan Rose. Pray for strength for the family of Stanley Fitzpatrick. Please pray that if Stanley is innocent, lacks the competency to be executed, or should not be executed for any other reason that evidence will be provided before his execution. Pray that Stanley may come to find peace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

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