Denny Obermiller v. State of Ohio, Case No. 2011-0857
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court
Denny Obermiller is appealing his death sentence for the 2010 murders of his grandparents in Maple Heights.
Candace and Donald Schneider were found strangled to death in their suburban Cleveland home on Aug. 14, 2010. Their bodies had been there for several days before being discovered by Maple Heights police who were alerted by a granddaughter because she hadn't heard from them. Just before their deaths, Donald Schneider had reported to police that he believed his grandson, Obermiller, had stolen gold coins from the home.
Obermiller was arrested at a gas station along I-70 in Licking County, and allegedly told police officers he killed his grandparents without being read his Miranda rights. He waived his right to a jury trial and asked to represent himself. After deciding his attorneys could stay, Obermiller pleaded guilty before a three-judge panel in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court to multiple felony counts, including the rape of his grandmother and aggravated murder with prior calculation and design for both deaths. After hearing testimony, the judges found him guilty and sentenced Obermiller to death.
Obermiller's attorneys are appealing to the Ohio Supreme Court, making 10 arguments in asking the justices to reverse his conviction and sentence.
