CINCINNATI: If your car was heading for a ditch, would you steer back onto the road or let it crash? As a certified trauma therapist, I have seen how timely intervention in the life of a suffering child can avert a tragedy. Unless Gov. John Kasich intervenes to stop the scheduled execution of Robert Van Hook, all Ohioans may soon participate in the end result of too many missed opportunities.
Many studies confirm the detrimental effects on brain formation when children suffer traumatic abuse. Clinically, such incidents are called “adverse childhood experiences,” also known as ACEs. There are 10 primary ACE factors, including sexual and physical abuse, physical and emotional neglect, household mental illness and alcoholic parents. ACEs can contribute significantly to negative and physical mental health outcomes.
ACEs are common among many on Ohio’s death row. Robert Van Hook, scheduled to be executed on July 18, experienced all 10 ACEs. This does not excuse his murder of David Self. However, these issues were not as well understood, nor were they sufficiently raised during Van Hook’s trial in 1985. The governor should consider the following before he decides whether to extend or deny mercy in this case.
[For more on this story by Lynn Hensler, go to https://www.ohio.com/akron/edi...buse-calls-for-mercy]
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