Family of murdered Chillicothe man upset that DeWine moves execution date of murderer

CHILLICOTHE— Last month, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine postponed the executions of three men on death row. One man was scheduled to be executed for the killing of a Ross County resident in 1985.

Harold White Sr. was murdered in September of 1985 in his home in Chillicothe when he was 84 years old, his body was drained of blood after a deep knife cut to the throat. Lawrence Landrum was convicted of this crime and has been on death row since 1986.

During the trial, Landrum pleaded innocent and claimed that his then teenage accomplice William Swackhammer slashed the throat while he searched for money.

The execution of Landrum was scheduled for Oct. 15 but has been moved to October 2027.

According to The Columbus Dispatch, an execution in Ohio has not taken place since 2018. Johnida White, the niece of White, believes that needs to change.

"It is just unconscionable that they won't do that," said Johnida. "I don't understand after all these years."

When she got the news that the execution had been pushed back Johnida said she broke down into tears as she has been holding on to the hope of justice for decades now.

Johnida was in college when the murder of her uncle took place, she remembers attending parts of the trial and seeing Landrum in the courtroom. Members of her family were often there during the proceedings.

She calls her uncle a "kind person" who always helped others in the family and the community. Growing up she remembers he was always one of the first people to send her family a Christmas card with money as he believed everyone should have a nice Christmas dinner. He also helped Johnida during her time in school.

In the years following the murder of White, his family has continued to deal with the aftermath which still impacts their mental health to this day. Johnida said it hurts her that Landrum has not accepted responsibility and admitted to the murder.

"It has just been so hard," said Johnida. "He [Landrum] did it, he needs to take responsibility."

Johnida hopes that by sharing her story politicians will hear how having Landrum still living impacts her family and it will move them to take action against him.

"He's evil," said Johnida.

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Family of murdered Chillicothe man upset that DeWine moves execution date of murderer