Bio

Tyrone Noling was born in 1971 in Ohio. He grew up in a troubled home environment. His parents divorced when he was young. After the divorce, Tyrone's mother struggled to take care of him and his siblings. At one point, she decided to give up custody of Tyrone to his father. This decision led Tyrone to drop out of school in the ninth grade. He began to run away from home and lived with friends.

As a teenager, Tyrone started to get involved in petty theft. He stole from cars, homes, and stores. He often got into trouble with the law for these smaller crimes. His behavior indicated a pattern of criminal activity. Despite this, he remained in juvenile facilities for only short periods.

By the time he was 18, Tyrone had graduated from petty theft to more serious crimes. He often hung out with friends who engaged in similar activities. They would roam around the neighborhood and commit burglaries together. This group influence further intensified his criminal lifestyle. Tyrone felt that committing these crimes was easier than working for a living.

In the months leading up to his most serious offenses, he continued to deepen his involvement in crime. He and his friends would often spend time in abandoned houses and at local party spots. They drank alcohol and smoked substances, which fueled their reckless behavior. 

Murder Story

On April 5, 1990, Tyrone Noling was involved in the murders of Bearnhardt and Cora Hartig in Portage County, Ohio. The couple, both 81 years old, was shot inside their home. Mr. Hartig suffered three gunshot wounds to his chest and shoulder. Mrs. Hartig was shot five times in various parts of her body. Their bodies were discovered later when a neighbor's son went to check on them after noticing that Mr. Hartig's lawn tractor had not been moved for two days.

Noling was linked to the Hartig murders after several robbery incidents involving elderly couples occurred nearby. Prosecutors suggested that Noling's motive was robbery, but nothing was actually taken from the Hartigs' home. The crime scene showed signs of a struggle, but valuables remained untouched. A .25-caliber handgun that Noling had stolen days before was not proven to be the murder weapon.

Noling was arrested and tried in 1996. During the trial, three of his friends testified against him, claiming he was present during the murders. However, all three later recanted their statements, saying they were coerced by the police. Noling maintained his innocence throughout the trial and in the years following. He was convicted of two counts of aggravated murder and was sentenced to death on February 20, 1996.

In subsequent years, various appeals were filed in Noling's defense, arguing that there was no physical evidence tying him to the crime. The case received attention from the Ohio Innocence Project, which sought to uncover more information that could lead to Noling's exoneration. Noling remained on death row, continuing to assert that he did not commit the murders of Bearnhardt and Cora Hartig.