Bio

William G. Zuern was born on December 5, 1958. He grew up in Ohio. During his early years, Zuern had a troubled upbringing. He faced many issues that may have influenced his later actions. As a child, he encountered disciplinary problems and was often in trouble with the law.

In his teenage years, Zuern began to engage in more serious criminal activity. He had multiple run-ins with law enforcement. His criminal history included offenses such as burglary and robbery. By the time he was an adult, he had developed a pattern of violence and aggression. This pattern continued into his early adulthood when he was charged with more serious crimes.

Zuern was involved in a shooting incident on May 12, 1983. This was a significant event in his life, leading to more legal trouble. Following this, he was confined at the Community Correctional Institute, known as "the Workhouse," in Hamilton County, Ohio. At the time of his incarceration, he was known for his hostile behavior toward correctional officers.

While at the institution, Zuern began preparing for further violence. He reportedly expressed animosity toward jail staff. Information from other inmates suggested he was creating a weapon from everyday materials. This behavior would later have serious consequences for both him and others.

Zuern's early life was marked by struggles with authority, violence, and criminal behavior. These factors contributed to the events that would define his later years.

Murder Story

William G. Zuern was involved in two murder cases which led to his execution. The first murder occurred on May 12, 1983, when Zuern fatally shot Gregory Earls. Earls had been an informant against Zuern's father. Zuern pleaded guilty to this murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

The second murder took place on June 9, 1984, while Zuern was incarcerated at the Community Correctional Institute in Hamilton County, Ohio, awaiting trial for Earls' murder. He was charged with the aggravated murder of Phillip Pence, a 26-year-old Hamilton County jailer. On the evening of the crime, officers went to search Zuern's cell after receiving a tip about a homemade weapon he possessed.

When the officers, including Pence, opened the door to his cell, Zuern lunged at Pence and stabbed him in the chest with a sharpened piece of metal, known as a shank. The attack was fatal; Pence succumbed to his injuries a few hours later after being rushed to the hospital. The stabbing was described as a calculated act, as witnesses noted that Zuern had expressed hostility towards jail officers prior to the attack.

After being found guilty of Pence's murder, Zuern was sentenced to death by a jury. He was executed by lethal injection on June 8, 2004, nearly 20 years after the murder of Pence. Despite various legal appeals and a clemency request, his execution proceeded without any final words or appeals to overturn the sentence. He died in the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, and his body was later buried in a state-run cemetery due to the lack of family means for a private burial.