Ohio Appeals Court Denies New Trial for Death Row Inmate
The court reinstated the death sentence of David Lee Myers, 61, after a judge previously vacated his 1996 conviction.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Criminal Justice
The Ohio Second District Court of Appeals has denied a new trial for David Lee Myers, effectively returning the 61-year-old inmate to death row. The decision mandates that the original murder conviction and death sentence for the 1996 killing of Amanda Jo Mayer be reinstated.
Why it matters
The appeals court ruled that the lower court judge erred by granting a new trial, a move that briefly resulted in Myers' release on bond in August 2024. This decision settles a complex legal dispute over evidence and trial procedures that spanned three decades.
The Ohio Second District Court of Appeals ordered Judge Jonathan Hein to revoke the bond of David Lee Myers and return him to the Ross Correctional Institution. Myers remains under a death sentence for the 1996 conviction regarding the death of Amanda Jo Mayer.
The players
David Lee Myers
He is a 61-year-old inmate who has spent 28 years on Ohio's death row following his 1996 murder conviction.
Amanda Jo Mayer
She was an 18-year-old victim of a 1988 homicide in Xenia, Ohio.
Jonathan Hein
He is the judge who was ordered by the appeals court to revoke the bond of Myers.
Ohio Second District Court of Appeals
This is the state judicial body responsible for reviewing and deciding on the appeals of criminal convictions in this jurisdiction.
Ross Correctional Institution
This is the Ohio state prison facility where David Lee Myers is currently incarcerated.
The details
DNA testing conducted in 2021 on the railroad spike and rocks used in the attack on Amanda Jo Mayer did not contain DNA evidence matching Myers. Despite this, the appeals court affirmed that the original conviction stands and ordered the reversal of the decision to grant a new trial.
Timeline
August 4, 1988: Amanda Jo Mayer was found fatally injured in Xenia, Ohio.
February 1996: David Lee Myers was found guilty and sentenced to death.
2021: DNA testing was conducted on evidence from the crime scene.
August 2024: A judge vacated the conviction and released Myers on bond.
October 26, 2026: The appeals court denied the appeal and affirmed the conviction.
Legal Context
The reinstatement of the death sentence highlights the state's rigid adherence to established 1996 trial outcomes despite modern forensic advancements. This ruling underscores the difficulty of overturning historic capital convictions even when post-conviction DNA evidence fails to identify the defendant.
This decision confirms that the individual convicted of the 1988 homicide remains in state custody at the Ross Correctional Institution. Local residents in Greene County are not expected to see any changes to public safety protocols as a result of this court ruling.
The takeaway
The appellate ruling serves as a final reinforcement of the original conviction in this high-profile 1996 case. It illustrates the enduring nature of court-imposed sentences within the Ohio judicial system.
Further reading
Learn more about the state's legal proceedings in the Ohio Criminal Justice section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dayton Daily News.
