Death Penalty Reversed Over Convicted Killer’s Abusive Childhood

The Ohio Supreme Court overturned the death penalty of a man who brutally strangled and stomped a 76-year-old man in a robbery, saying that the murderer’s abusive childhood, among other factors, offset the cruelty of the crime.

The Supreme Court justices also pointed out that Troy Tenace, 44, was extremely remorseful when he confessed to the slaying in 1994. Under the maximum sentence, Tenace won’t be eligible for parole until he’s 96-year-old.

While the justices do not excuse the brutality of the crime, the majority believe that Tenace’s abusive childhood, his remorse, and the maximum sentence are all factors that contributed to their decision to reverse the death penalty.

The Supreme Court did, however, uphold Tenace’s robbery and murder conviction. Chester Kozlowski was gagged and strangled in his home in January 1994. He also had severe face injuries after Tenace stomped on him with heavy boots.

During his trial, Tenace’s mother and siblings testified that as a child, Tenace’s stepfather forced him to watch his sister being sexually abused, and Tenace was also molested by babysitters. Tenace and his siblings were taught to steal and take drugs by the time they were 10.

“Tenace was doomed from the start,” Justice Judith Lanzinger said in the majority opinion. “Both appellant’s mother and father were abusive, neglectful, and pernicious influences on their three children, who were schooled in crime from an early age.”

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