Too fat for execution? WTF?

[ShakAttack]

Posted on Tue, Aug. 05, 2008
Ohio inmate says he's too fat for execution

ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS
Associated Press Writer

A death row inmate scheduled for execution says he's too fat to be put to death, claiming executioners would have trouble finding his veins and that his weight could diminish the effectiveness of one of the lethal injection drugs.

Lawyers for Richard Cooey argue in a federal lawsuit that Cooey - 5-feet-7 and 267 pounds - had poor veins when he faced execution five years ago and the problem has been worsened by weight gain.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court, also says prison officials have had difficulty drawing blood from Cooey for medical procedures.
Cooey, 41, is sentenced to die for raping and murdering two young women in 1986. His execution is scheduled for Oct. 14.

His attorneys say a drug he is taking for migraine headaches could affect the execution process. The drug Topamax, a type of seizure medication, may have created a resistance to thiopental, the drug used to put inmates to sleep before two other lethal drugs are administered, Dr. Mark Heath, a physician hired by the Ohio Public Defender's Office, said in documents filed with the court.

Heath says Cooey's weight, combined with the potential drug resistance, increases the risk he would not be properly anesthetized.

"All of the experts agree if the first drug doesn't work, the execution is going to be excruciating," Cooey's public defender, Kelly Culshaw Schneider, said Monday.

Prison system spokeswoman Andrea Carson and Jim Gravelle, a spokesman for the Ohio Attorney General's Office, both said Monday they hadn't seen the lawsuit and couldn't comment.

Last year, Carson cited the obesity of condemned inmate Christopher Newton as one of the reasons prison officials had difficulty accessing his veins before his execution. Newton was 6 feet tall and weighed 265 pounds.

Two years ago, convicted killer Jeffrey Lundgren was put to death after a federal appeals court rejected his claim that he was at greater risk of experiencing pain and suffering because he was overweight and diabetic.

[FD2BLK]

No more crazy than some of the other excuses we've heard.

[Diplomat]

Would his death be any more "excruciating" than the deaths of the young women he raped and murdered?

Put him in the electric chair and deep-fry him.

[Mighty Dyckerson]

How does a guy get that *****ing fat in prison? If they knew this was going to be an issue, couldn't they have restricted his food intake?

[the original buttongod]

To quote an old Pace Picante Sauce commercial:

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n37/buttongod_2006/noose.jpg

"Get a rope !"

[Stormtracker_Tony]

How does a guy get that *****ing fat in prison? If they knew this was going to be an issue, couldn't they have restricted his food intake?

Never thought I'd say this :D ...but I agree with Dyckerson! dude should have been put on a diet and not be wasting tax payer money to overstuff his ass

[HushHush]

What a wimp - I have no problem having blood drawn for lab work every month from my "*****ing fat" and "overstuffed" arms.

It's just an excuse to put off his execution.

[s'news]

A good defense attorney should try anything and everything to serve his or her client, even if it's not likely to work.

[Pro]

Never thought I'd say this :D ...but I agree with Dyckerson! dude should have been put on a diet and not be wasting tax payer money to overstuff his ass

I cannot see how a person can eat enough food to get that large while on death row. Death row inmates don't order off a menu. Then don't go through a buffet. You can't get "seconds". I have to think there is another reason.

[HushHush]

In order to gain 1 pound - you must consume 3,500 calories more than you burn off each week. Each persons metabolism works differently - so you each burn calories at a different pace. Your height and weight are a key factor in the formula, but then you have to count in your activity level and any other medical issues that might slow down your metabolism.

In order for me to lose weight - I've had to cut my calories to 800 - 1200 per day - and this is to lose weight at a pace of 1 - 3 pounds per week. In order for me to maintain my same weight - I have to eat 1800 - 2000 calories per day. Then of course - what types of foods is he eating? Are they loaded with carbs and fat? Or is the menu relatively healthy?

I'm sure the food the prisoners are eating probably is higher in calories than what he needs to eat to lose weight ... and with the reduced activity ... I'm sure it's easy to gain weight. Especially if the prisoners aren't participating in any additional activity during rec time - like weight lifting.

I'm wondering ... as men ... how many calories do you typically consume in one day?

[Produce man]

I cannot see how a person can eat enough food to get that large while on death row. Death row inmates don't order off a menu. Then don't go through a buffet. You can't get "seconds". I have to think there is another reason.Yeah, it's because death row inmates spend 23 hrs. a day in a cell the size of a bathroom.

[Pro]

Yeah, it's because death row inmates spend 23 hrs. a day in a cell the size of a bathroom.

Then why aren't ALL death row inmates "too fat to be executed"? Did this one eat anything the other death row inmates didn't?

[Produce man]

In order to gain 1 pound - you must consume 3,500 calories more than you burn off each week. Each persons metabolism works differently - so you each burn calories at a different pace. Your height and weight are a key factor in the formula, but then you have to count in your activity level and any other medical issues that might slow down your metabolism.

In order for me to lose weight - I've had to cut my calories to 800 - 1200 per day - and this is to lose weight at a pace of 1 - 3 pounds per week. In order for me to maintain my same weight - I have to eat 1800 - 2000 calories per day. Then of course - what types of foods is he eating? Are they loaded with carbs and fat? Or is the menu relatively healthy?

I'm sure the food the prisoners are eating probably is higher in calories than what he needs to eat to lose weight ... and with the reduced activity ... I'm sure it's easy to gain weight. Especially if the prisoners aren't participating in any additional activity during rec time - like weight lifting.

I'm wondering ... as men ... how many calories do you typically consume in one day?Daily-950-122 calories. Saturday, I have one good meal at a fine restaurant. That meal is probably around 2500-3000 calories.

I've lost 45lbs. since April.

[Mighty Dyckerson]

Never thought I'd say this :D ...but I agree with Dyckerson!

How come every time someone agrees with me, they have to preface it by saying "I never thought I'd say this..."?

[Produce man]

Then why aren't ALL death row inmates "too fat to be executed"? Did this one eat anything the other death row inmates didn't?No, it's probably because he has a naturally slow metabolism. Remember, there are ectomorphs and endomorphs. This guy is probably an endomorph. (round people, as opposed to ectomorphs, who tend to be more "angular" in appearance)

[Pro]

No, it's probably because he has a naturally slow metabolism. Remember, there are ectomorphs and endomorphs. This guy is probably an endomorph. (round people, as opposed to ectomorphs, who tend to be more "angular" in appearance)

OK, that may be true. But the point is he didn't - couldn't - eat his way out of the death penalty, as some here have allegeded.

[Stormtracker_Tony]

How come every time someone agrees with me, they have to preface it by saying "I never thought I'd say this..."?

I guess the same reason when people win the lottery, they say "I never thought it would happen to me"...When you leave multiple posts each day for years and someone has not found one that they agree with, the chances of that happening today are very small (just like winning the lottery)...Therefore, that statement appears:thumbsup:

[HushHush]

Daily-950-122 calories. Saturday, I have one good meal at a fine restaurant. That meal is probably around 2500-3000 calories.

I've lost 45lbs. since April.

Way to go Produce!! :thumbsup:

[Mighty Dyckerson]

Way to go Produce!! :thumbsup:

Don't encourage him. He's still a Douche.

[News Is Broken]

Sounds like something easily cured with a bullet at close range to me.

BANG! Problem solved.

[DW]

How does a guy get that *****ing fat in prison? If they knew this was going to be an issue, couldn't they have restricted his food intake?

Maybe he increased his protein intake, not by choice? I'm sorry, it had to be said.

This is prison afterall.....

[Another OMB]

Then why aren't ALL death row inmates "too fat to be executed"? Did this one eat anything the other death row inmates didn't?

Heeeyyyyyy. Wait a minute! Where's his cellmate?!

[tater]

Well they could just let him keep eating and then heart disease and diabetes will execute him.

I'm just saying...

[tater]

How does a guy get that *****ing fat in prison? If they knew this was going to be an issue, couldn't they have restricted his food intake?

I'll always say this...I agree with Dyckerson.

[Produce man]

Way to go Produce!! :thumbsup:Thanks. It's a work in progress. I head to Cabo San Lucas in October, so I'm hoping to lose another 20lbs. by then.

(Oh, and regular exercise has done wonders, as well.)

[Produce man]

OK, that may be true. But the point is he didn't - couldn't - eat his way out of the death penalty, as some here have allegeded.Oh, I'm not saying that. I'm not familiar with the case. It sounds like he's grasping at straws at this point.

[Pro]

Oh, I'm not saying that. I'm not familiar with the case. It sounds like he's grasping at straws at this point.

Perhaps so, but can you blame him for trying?

[Produce man]

Perhaps so, but can you blame him for trying?Personally, yes. Legally, no.

[Pro]

Personally, yes. Legally, no.

I suspect that most everyone scheduled for execution will do everything they can to avoid it.

[Laughing Angel]

Why don't they haul him down to Texas? I hear they used to fry 'em like chickens down there.

[Karma +]

Maybe a little gastric bypass is in order to solve this conundrum. Then again, the anesthesia may not work on fatty - or it could kill him.

I just may be on to something here...

[Diplomat]

Will he request a healthy menu for his last meal?

[s'news]

Why don't they haul him down to Texas? I hear they used to fry 'em like chickens down there.

"Used to"?

[Produce man]

I suspect that most everyone scheduled for execution will do everything they can to avoid it.You'd be surprised. We had a guy around here recently get executed. He used up all of his appeals, but pretty much resigned himself to his fate.

Weird, he ordered a ton of food for his last meal, yet only ate a couple of slices of pizza and drank some root beer.

[TVShootist]

I've lost 45lbs. since April.

Great job!

I've been dieting since November and have lost 80 pounds.. eating right and exercise is all it takes.

[Produce man]

Great job!

I've been dieting since November and have lost 80 pounds.. eating right and exercise is all it takes.Awesome! I bet you feel a lot better, too.

[Laughing Angel]

S'news, I understand that Texas no longer uses the electric chair to take death row inmates out of the game.

[s'news]

Texas fries 'em with chemicals these days.

[ewink]

Someone else said it, and I will second it...

Nothing a firing squad couldn't deal with. Hanging him probably wouldn't be an option for the same reasons he is claiming the needle won't work.

[Diplomat]

Only Idaho, Oklahoma and Utah still have firing squads, but I agree that it would do the trick in this case.

[s'news]

Someone else said it, and I will second it...

Nothing a firing squad couldn't deal with. Hanging him probably wouldn't be an option for the same reasons he is claiming the needle won't work.

Why is that? His weight should work nicely with a noose.

As to the firing squad idea, while a few states allow its use, they don't prefer it and few die by firing squad. I think we're talking about a few folks over the last few decades.

[Mighty Dyckerson]

His weight should work nicely with a noose.

No noose is good noose! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!

[Produce man]

As long as the end result is the same...