Bio

Mark Wayne Wiles was born on March 11, 1963. He grew up in Ohio, where he had a troubled childhood. His family life was complicated, as he had a distant relationship with his father. This created an emotionally challenging environment for him.

In 1982, Wiles began working as a part-time laborer for Charles and Carol Klima on their horse farm, Shakespeare Acres, in Rootstown, Ohio. The Klimas lived there with their son Mark Klima. During his time working for the Klimas, Wiles created a professional connection with the family, although his background hinted at trouble.

In early 1983, the Klimas discovered that $200 was missing from their home. At that time, Wiles was the only other person present while the family was away. Following this incident, he stopped coming to work at the farm and did not return to collect his paycheck. The missing money left a mark on the family's trust in him.

Later that year, Wiles was arrested and began serving a 4-to-25 year sentence for an unrelated burglary. He spent about 18 months in prison before he returned to the Klima farm on August 7, 1985.

While working at the farm, Wiles struggled with substance abuse. He had also suffered a severe head injury from a bar fight just days before the incident that would mark a dramatic change in his life. After leaving prison, he was not able to control his impulses.

Wiles' early life, marked by unstable family dynamics and criminal behavior, set the stage for his later actions that would lead him down a dark path.

Murder Story

On August 7, 1985, Mark Wayne Wiles committed a burglary at the Klima family's farmhouse in Rootstown, Ohio. Earlier that day, he observed Charles, Carol, and Mark Klima leave their home. He entered through an unlocked door and began searching for valuables. During this time, 15-year-old Mark Klima returned home and confronted Wiles. In the ensuing struggle, Wiles stabbed Mark Klima 24 times with a kitchen knife before fleeing the scene with approximately $260 in cash.

After the attack, Carol Klima came home and found her son unconscious on the floor with a knife buried in his back. Emergency services were called, but Mark died later that day in the hospital due to his injuries.

Wiles initially fled to Savannah, Georgia, where he remained for several days. However, five days after the murder, he turned himself in to the police. Upon surrendering, Wiles confessed to the crime, admitting that he had killed Mark Klima during the burglary. Following his confession, he was charged with aggravated murder and aggravated burglary.

After a trial proceedings in which Wiles chose to waive his right to a jury, a three-judge panel convicted him. During sentencing, the court determined that the crime was particularly brutal, and Wiles was sentenced to death. Subsequent appeals were filed but ultimately rejected at various levels of the judicial system.

On April 18, 2012, Mark Wayne Wiles was executed by lethal injection in Ohio. His last meal consisted of a large pepperoni pizza with extra cheese, hot sauce, a garden salad with ranch dressing, a large bag of Cheetos, a whole cheesecake, fresh strawberries, vanilla wafers, and a Sprite. His final words addressed the Klima family, expressing a hope that his execution would bring them some closure.