State v. Garrett , 2022 Ohio 4218 ( 2022 )

[Until this opinion appears in the Ohio Official Reports advance sheets, it may be cited as
State v. Garrett, Slip Opinion No. 2022-Ohio-4218.]
NOTICE
This slip opinion is subject to formal revision before it is published in
an advance sheet of the Ohio Official Reports. Readers are requested
to promptly notify the Reporter of Decisions, Supreme Court of Ohio,
65 South Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, of any typographical or
other formal errors in the opinion, in order that corrections may be
made before the opinion is published.
SLIP OPINION NO. 2022-OHIO-4218THE STATE OF OHIO, APPELLEE, v. GARRETT, APPELLANT.
[Until this opinion appears in the Ohio Official Reports advance sheets, it
may be cited as State v. Garrett, Slip Opinion No. 2022-Ohio-4218.]
Criminal law—Aggravated murder—Findings of guilt and death sentence
affirmed.
(No. 2019-1381—Submitted June 15, 2022—Decided November 30, 2022.)
APPEAL from the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County,
No. 18CR-168.
_________________
FISCHER, J.
{¶ 1} This is an appeal of right from an aggravated-murder conviction and
death sentence. A Franklin County jury found appellant, Kristofer Garrett, guilty
of the aggravated murders of his four-year-old daughter, C.D., and her mother,
Nicole Duckson, with accompanying death-penalty specifications. The jury
recommended a sentence of death for the aggravated murder of C.D., and the trial
court sentenced Garrett according to the jury’s recommendation. The court also
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sentenced him to life without parole for the aggravated murder of Nicole. We
affirm Garrett’s convictions and death sentence.
I. TRIAL EVIDENCE
A. Prosecution’s evidence
1. Murders of Nicole and C.D. in their driveway
{¶ 2} In January 2018, Nicole and C.D. lived in Columbus with Clifton
Duckson Sr., Nicole’s father. Nicole would normally carpool to work with her
friend and coworker, Amberly Reid, and drop off C.D. at childcare.
{¶ 3} At 6:27 a.m. on January 5, 2018, Nicole sent Reid a text message
stating that she would pick Reid up between 7:10 and 7:15 a.m. When Nicole
failed to arrive, Reid texted Nicole, but Nicole did not respond. Reid then drove
to Clifton’s house to make sure everything was alright. Upon arrival, Reid found
Nicole’s and C.D.’s bodies covered in blood and lying on the driveway next to
Nicole’s car. Reid then called 9-1-1.
{¶ 4} Police officers arriving at the scene found Nicole’s and C.D.’s dead
bodies. Blood, clumps of hair, and items from a purse and a child’s backpack
were found outside the back door of the home. Marks on the snowy driveway
suggested that C.D.’s body had been dragged from the front of Nicole’s car to its
location next to Nicole’s body. A trail of blood droplets also led down the
driveway and along the street.
2. Garrett’s identification as the suspect and his arrest
{¶ 5} Members of the Duckson family identified Garrett as a possible
suspect. Garrett did not answer his phone when the police tried to reach him. The
police learned that Garrett was at his Chatford Drive apartment in Columbus and
that his driver’s license had been suspended.
{¶ 6} Around 9:40 p.m. on January 5, as Garrett was driving away from
his apartment, Columbus police officers stopped him for driving with a suspended
license.
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3. Garrett’s first police interview
{¶ 7} On January 5 at 11:35 p.m., Detective James Porter, the lead
investigator, and Sergeant David Sicilian interviewed Garrett at Columbus police
headquarters. Police observed lacerations on the palm of Garrett’s right hand and
noted that the fingers on that hand had been stitched and bandaged.
{¶ 8} Garrett waived his rights under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436,
86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966), and agreed to speak to investigators.
During a videotaped interview, Garrett stated that he had worked from 10:00 p.m.
to 6:30 a.m. on January 5. Garrett said that after work, he cut his hand while
taking a steak out of a package and stitched the wounds himself.
{¶ 9} Detective Porter informed Garrett that Nicole and C.D. had been
stabbed to death. Garrett stated he was unaware that that had happened. Garrett
said that he and Nicole had lived together for about a year but claimed that he had
not talked to her since the past summer. Garrett denied that he had done anything
to Nicole or C.D.
{¶ 10} As the interview progressed, Garrett discussed his relationship with
Nicole. He stated that he was 19 and Nicole was 29 when they had started dating.
According to Garrett, Nicole told him she could not get pregnant and did not want
him to use condoms. And Nicole agreed to have an abortion if she did get
pregnant. Thus, when Nicole gave birth to C.D., Garrett felt that he had been
tricked.
{¶ 11} Garrett was also upset because Nicole said she would never request
child support but then she did. Child-support payments were $600 a month. But
Garrett’s rent was $485 a month, and he also needed money for food, the gym,
and gas for his car. Garrett said Nicole kept taking him to court and doing
everything to “bring [him] down.” Garrett said his driver’s license was suspended
because he had failed to pay child support. According to Garrett, a “disgruntled
woman” was subjecting him to a “substandard” mode of living.
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{¶ 12} Garrett added that Nicole had kept him from seeing C.D. He stated
that Nicole tried to manipulate him by telling him that if he wanted to see C.D., he
would have to have sex with her. Nicole told him that if “you can’t see me, you
can’t see her.” According to Garrett, the last time he saw C.D. was in May of the
previous year. Garrett said it had reached the point where he felt that C.D. was
not his daughter anymore.
{¶ 13} Toward the end of the interview, Garrett acknowledged that on
January 5, he had left work early and drove to Nicole’s house. He admitted that
he had cut his hand at the crime scene and that it was his blood droplets on the
driveway. Garrett stated that he did not know why he went to Nicole’s house, that
he should have never gone, and that he regretted it.
4. Garrett’s second interview
{¶ 14} After he was transported to Grant Hospital for medical treatment,
Garrett informed the guard that he wanted to speak with Detective Porter again.
On January 7, Detective Porter conducted an audiotaped interview of Garrett at
the hospital. After being reminded of his Miranda rights, Garrett said he wanted
to make a full confession.
{¶ 15} Garrett stated, “I confess that I did kill Nicole Duckson and I did
kill [C.D.].” Garrett said that after leaving work around 6:00 a.m., he went home
and checked his email. He stated that had received an email regarding his
delinquent child-support payments that indicated “they were going to be locking
[him] up.” Garrett became angry, took multiple shots of liquor, drove to Nicole’s
neighborhood, parked down the street from her house, and waited for her outside.
{¶ 16} Garrett said that when Nicole came out the door, he “just started
stabbing her.” Nicole yelled, “[P]lease, I’m sorry!” But Garrett said that “[i]n the
back of [his] mind, [he] felt she wasn’t sorry” because they had been in this
situation too many times. C.D. then ran out and started screaming. Detective
Porter asked whether Garrett killed C.D. because she had seen him stab her mom.
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Garrett responded, “Yes, because of that.” Garrett then went back to his car, put
the knife in the trunk, and drove home.
{¶ 17} Garrett explained that he felt that he and Nicole “had argued
enough” and that he had been unable to persuade her that he was “trying to get
[his] feet on the ground.” He said that he was trying to save money to start a
food-truck business and that once he was able to start that business, he would
have been able to pay child support. But, according to Garrett, Nicole “never
wanted to hear it.” Garrett added that he had been driving with a suspended
license and would go to jail if he ever got into an accident. He believed that
Nicole was trying to destroy his future.
{¶ 18} Garrett stated that he drove home and hid the knife and the clothes
he was wearing in a “cubby hole” by the laundry room at his apartment complex.
He then decided to drive to a Dayton hospital to have his hand treated. Garrett
returned to Columbus and was driving to work when the police arrested him.
5. Murder weapon, bloody clothing, and bloodstains
{¶ 19} On the evening of January 7, Detective Porter and other officers
found Garrett’s bloodstained clothing and a bloodstained 12-inch hunting knife in
a storage unit at Garrett’s apartment complex. A few days later, the police
searched Garrett’s car and found possible bloodstains on the driver’s seat,
dashboard, and gear-shift knob.
6. Autopsies of C.D. and Nicole
{¶ 20} Dr. John Daniels, a forensic pathologist and Franklin County’s
deputy coroner, reviewed C.D.’s and Nicole’s autopsies, which had been
conducted by Dr. Donald Pojman.1 Dr. Daniels testified that he agreed with Dr.
Pojman’s findings as to each victim.
1. Dr. Daniels testified that Dr. Pojman had been on medical leave for an extended period and that
Dr. Pojman was still on medical leave at the time of Garrett’s trial.
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{¶ 21} C.D. suffered 33 sharp-force injuries. C.D.’s wounds included a
9.5-centimeter-long incised wound to the back of her head, a 10-centimeter-long
incised wound that fractured her mandible and amputated the tip of her tongue,
two stab wounds that penetrated her skull and entered her brain, and an incised
wound that punctured her left jugular vein. C.D. had defensive wounds on the
palms of her hands and on the side of her right hand. C.D.’s cause of death was
multiple sharp-force injuries.
{¶ 22} Nicole suffered multiple stab wounds to her head, neck, and torso.
She had a 3.7-centimeter-long wound on the right cheek, a 4.5-centimeter-long
wound to her chest wall that left 400 milliliters of blood in her left thoracic cavity,
three incised wounds on the left side of her head, and a small puncture wound to
her right jugular vein. Nicole had several defensive wounds on her hands and
wrists. Nicole’s cause of death was multiple sharp-force injuries.
B. Defense and rebuttal evidence
1. Dr. Reardon’s testimony
{¶ 23} Dr. James P. Reardon, a forensic psychologist, supported Garrett’s
plea of not guilty by reason of insanity (“NGRI”) for the murder of C.D. Dr.
Reardon testified that when Garrett was 13, he was diagnosed with “reactive
attachment disorder of infancy or early childhood.” According to Dr. Reardon,
this disorder does not allow “normal attachment * * * of a child to significant
people in their environment, typically mom and dad initially, maybe
grandparents.”
{¶ 24} Dr. Reardon testified that on looking at Garrett’s history, there was
“no mystery to how he got to where he got to.” Garrett’s father was in prison the
entire time Garrett was growing up. At the age of three months, Garrett was
removed from his mother’s care and placed in foster care until he was two years
old. He was placed in foster care again when he was 13 years old until he was 15.
When Garrett was three-and-a-half years old, his infant brother died of sudden-
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infant-death syndrome (“SIDS”), and when he was approximately five years old,
his sister—who was five or six weeks old—suffered major developmental brain
damage. Bernice McCoy, Garrett’s mother, lived with Tim Fultz, who was
Garrett’s only father figure, for a time. After they separated, Garrett and his
mother were homeless for about a year.
{¶ 25} Dr. Reardon testified that Garrett’s lack of trust and sense of
betrayal continued to develop while he dated Nicole. Nicole had told Garrett that
she was unable to get pregnant, but then she got pregnant. Garrett felt isolated
and did not even tell his mother about C.D. until C.D.’s third birthday. A “back
and forth struggle” ensued between Nicole and Garrett about his “being able to
see his daughter,” “being able to be a part of his daughter’s life,” and “being able
to be the father that he never had.” Moreover, according to Garrett, Nicole would
not allow Garrett to see C.D. unless he would have sex with Nicole. So, Garrett
would not see his daughter for long periods of time.
{¶ 26} On November 13, 2018, Dr. Reardon provided defense counsel
with a comprehensive report. Dr. Reardon diagnosed Garrett with having reactive
attachment disorder, persistent, and unspecified bipolar and related disorder.
Bipolar disorders are “disorders where there is a dysregulation of energy, of
thought, of emotion” and “tend to be very high energy.” As further explained by
Dr. Reardon, a person with bipolar disorder “may have episodes of major
depression.” Dr. Reardon also diagnosed Garrett as having schizoid personality
disorder with acute dissociative episode. According to Dr. Reardon, as a result of
all the experiences in life, a person with schizoid personality disorder copes by
“kind of stay[ing] separate from people, stay[ing] apart from them, [does not]
connect, * * * live[s] * * * life with people but apart from people.” Dr. Reardon
stated that Garrett’s psychological conditions were “a consequence of some of the
severe neglect and abuse that he was subjected to during his infancy, childhood,
and adolescence.”
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{¶ 27} As for Nicole’s murder, Dr. Reardon reported that “[a]lthough
[Garrett’s] state of min[d] was clearly severely deranged at the time of his assault
against Nicole Duckson, it appears that from a legal point of view he probably
was aware that what he was doing was against the law. At that point, he was
simply ‘over the edge’ and unable to control his actions.” At trial, Dr. Reardon
stated that Garrett had “recount[ed] some of the events in the moments right
before the acts.” Garrett received a notification that the child-support agency was
going to take away his driver’s license, and he concluded that killing Nicole was
“a better alternative than losing his driver’s license and losing his livelihood.”
But Dr. Reardon ultimately concluded that Garrett “was sane.”
{¶ 28} As for C.D.’s murder, Dr. Reardon reached a different conclusion,
stating:
It is my opinion to reasonable psychological certainty, however,
that at the time of his assault and homicide of his daughter [C.D.],
* * * Garrett was in an acute dissociative episode. As a result of
this, there was a severe disruption of the normal integration of
consciousness, memory, emotion, and behavior. In this severely
impaired emotional state, he was unable to appreciate the
wrongfulness of his acts because he was in the dissociative
reaction. The best evidence supporting this is not only a virtually
complete inability to actually recall or describe any of his actions
but the very furiosity [sic] of the assault itself on his own child
who he, by all accounts and all reports, loved.
{¶ 29} Dr. Reardon testified that “the more [he] went into this with
[Garrett] and challenged him, the less [Garrett] could tell [Dr. Reardon] about
anything that had to do with [C.D.]” Dr. Reardon believed that “the reason for
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that was because he was in a dissociative state,” meaning that Garrett had
experienced a “complete disruption of consciousness, memory, emotion,
perception, [and] awareness of experience.”
{¶ 30} On December 17, 2018, Dr. Reardon sent a final report to the trial
court stating that Garrett was insane when he killed C.D.:
Pursuant to [R.C.] 2945.371(G)(4) of the Ohio Revised Code, it is
my opinion to reasonable psychological certainty that at the time of
the alleged offenses in * * * Count Two and Count Three,
regarding the homicide of [C.D.] that [Garrett] * * * did have a
severe mental disease (Reactive Attachment Disorder, Persistent;
Unspecified Bipolar and Related Disorder; Schizoid Personality
Disorder with Acute Dissociative Episode). It is my opinion that
he did not have a mental defect manifested at that time. It is also
my opinion to reasonable psychological certainty that at the time of
these alleged offenses, [Garrett] was in a dissociated state. The
dissociated state constituted an alteration and impairment in the
normal integration of consciousness, memory, perception, and
behavior. Dissociative symptoms/episodes are disruptive of every
area of psychological functioning. As a result of this dissociated
state at the time of these offenses, [Garrett] was not able to
appreciate the wrongfulness of the acts charged.
{¶ 31} During Dr. Reardon’s cross-examination, he could not say exactly
when Garrett came out of the dissociative state once he had murdered C.D. But
Garrett knew what he had done was wrong when he fled the scene and hid his
clothing and the knife. When Dr. Reardon asked Garrett, “Why [C.D.]?” Garrett
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replied, “I refuse to let anyone else raise my child. I didn’t want my daughter to
grow up without a dad like I had to. I couldn’t do that to her.”
2. Dr. Martell’s rebuttal
{¶ 32} Dr. Daniel Martell, the state’s forensic psychologist, disagreed with
Dr. Reardon’s diagnosis because it was based on (1) Garrett’s self-report that he
could not recall killing C.D. and (2) the severity of Garrett’s attack on her. As to
the first basis, Dr. Martell stated that “regardless of what [Garrett] told Dr.
Reardon; * * * Garrett clearly was able to recall what happened at the time he
made the decision to kill [C.D.]” (Boldface sic.) Dr. Martell added that Garrett’s
police statement showed that “he knew what he had done to Nicole * * * was
wrong and that [C.D.] was a witness to that, subsequently driving his decision to
kill [C.D] as well.” As to the second basis, Dr. Martell stated that “there can be
many reasons for the degree of force used that do not involve dissociation, and
there is nothing specifically diagnostic of dissociation about the use of force.”
{¶ 33} Dr. Martell stated that “there are a number of behaviors before,
during, and after the killings that reflect upon * * * Garrett’s knowledge of [sic]
wrongfulness regarding the killings,” including (1) Garrett debating whether to go
through with it right up to the moment of the attack, (2) Garrett deciding to kill
C.D. because she saw him kill her mother, which shows reflection and judgment
about what was happening in the moment, (3) Garrett’s decision to flee the crime
scene with the murder weapon, (4) Garrett’s hiding the knife and bloody clothes,
and (5) Garrett’s decisions to deny any knowledge of the murders and to lie to the
police that he cut his hand with a steak knife while trying to open a package
during the first interview.
{¶ 34} During cross-examination, Dr. Martell acknowledged that he had
not interviewed Garrett. Dr. Martell agreed that testing indicated that Garrett was
not malingering or faking a mental illness.
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II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
{¶ 35} Garrett was charged with four counts. In Count One, Garrett was
charged with the aggravated murder of Nicole with prior calculation and design in
violation of R.C. 2903.01. This count included a course-of-conduct death-penalty
specification for committing multiple murders in violation of R.C. 2929.04(A)(5).
In Count Two, Garrett was charged with the aggravated murder of C.D. with prior
calculation and design in violation of R.C. 2903.01. In Count Three, he was
charged with committing the aggravated murder of a child under the age of 13 in
violation of R.C. 2903.01. Count Two and Count Three included three death-
penalty specifications: (1) a course-of-conduct specification for committing
multiple murders in violation of R.C. 2929.04(A)(5), (2) a specification for
purposely causing the death of a child under the age of 13 in violation of R.C.
2929.04(A)(9), and (3) a specification for committing the offense of aggravated
murder to escape detection, apprehension, trial, or punishment in violation of R.C.
2929.04(A)(3). In Count Four, Garrett was charged with tampering with evidence
in violation of R.C. 2921.12—i.e., concealing the knife and bloody clothing.
{¶ 36} Garrett pleaded NGRI as to Counts Two and Three. He pleaded
not guilty to the remaining charges. A jury found Garrett guilty as to all counts
and specifications.
{¶ 37} The jury recommended a death sentence as to Counts Two and
Three and life in prison without the possibility of parole as to Count One. The
trial court merged Counts Two and Three for sentencing purposes and the state
elected to proceed to sentencing on Count Three. The trial court imposed a
sentence of life in prison as to Count One and a sentence of death as to Count
Three. The trial court ordered the sentences for Counts One and Three to be
served consecutively. However, it is unclear whether the trial court actually
intended for Garrett to be eligible for parole for Count One. During Garrett’s
sentencing hearing, the trial court stated that Garrett was sentenced to “life
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imprisonment without parole.” Likewise, in its September 14, 2019 judgment
entry, the trial court stated that it was sentencing Garrett to life in prison without
eligibility for parole. However, in its September 16, 2019 entry, the trial court
stated: “As to Count 1, the Court hereby imposes the sentence of life
imprisonment with parole eligibility.”
{¶ 38} It is also unclear what prison term the trial court intended to
sentence Garrett to for Count Four. At Garrett’s sentencing hearing, the trial
court imposed a 36-month prison term for Count Four and ordered Garrett to
serve that sentence concurrently with the sentences imposed in Counts One and
Three. The trial court’s September 16, 2019 judgment entry imposes that same
sentence for Count Four. But in its September 14, 2019 judgment entry, the trial
court stated that it was sentencing Garrett to 12 months in prison for Count Four.
{¶ 39} Garrett appeals his convictions and sentence and raises 16
propositions of law. These issues will be addressed in the approximate order that
they arose during the proceedings.
III. ISSUES RAISED ON APPEAL
A. Courtroom closure
{¶ 40} In proposition of law No. III, Garrett argues that the trial court
violated his right to a public trial by closing the trial to all minors without
considering reasonable alternatives or making findings to support the closure. He
claims that the closure constituted structural error, requiring a new trial.
1. Relevant facts
{¶ 41} At the beginning of trial, the trial court issued a courtroom-
decorum order that “children are not permitted to be in attendance throughout this
hearing * * * given the nature of the allegations and the offense that * * * Garrett
is indicted with.” The trial court stated that its order would “remain in effect
throughout the entirety of the trial and throughout the entirety of the
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proceedings.” The trial court defined a child as “anyone under the age of 18, a
minor child,” adding that “if it’s an issue, [it would] reconsider.”
{¶ 42} The prosecutor interjected, stating that “whenever anyone is barred
from the courtroom, * * * under certain decisions the Court has to give notice in
the hearing and those kind of things before folks are excluded from the
courtroom.” The prosecutor added that he was “concerned that the Court [should]
give the notice and allow objections * * * because of the claimed First
Amendment right to attend and the high [sic] constitution provision that says all
courtrooms shall be open to the public.” The trial court responded that “the
courtroom [was] open to the public, just not to minor children.”
{¶ 43} At the time of its ruling, the trial court noted that a minor was
present in the courtroom and stated that it would “need someone to * * * take the
young man out into the hallway.” Nothing in the record indicates that any other
minors had entered the courtroom during the trial and were asked to leave.
{¶ 44} The trial court asked defense counsel, “[A]nything regarding the
decorum order?” Defense counsel replied, “No, thank you, Your Honor.”
2. Legal framework
{¶ 45} The right to a public trial is a fundamental constitutional guarantee
under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I,
Section 10, of the Ohio Constitution. See State v. Lane, 60 Ohio St.2d 112, 119,
397 N.E.2d 1338 (1979). This guarantee is a “cornerstone of our democracy
which should not be circumvented unless there are extreme overriding
circumstances.” Id.{¶ 46} The right to a public trial is not absolute, and in some instances the
right must yield to other interests, such as those that are essential to the
administration of justice. A trial judge has authority and discretion to control the
courtroom proceedings. Nonetheless, a defendant’s right to a public trial may be
abridged only when necessary, and any closure must be narrowly drawn and
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applied sparingly. See State v. Drummond, 111 Ohio St.3d 14, 2006-Ohio-5084,
854 N.E.2d 1038, ¶ 51.
{¶ 47} The violation of the right to a public trial is considered structural
error and not subject to harmless-error analysis. Waller v. Georgia, 467 U.S. 39,
49-50, 104 S.Ct. 2210, 81 L.Ed.2d 31 (1984), fn. 9; Johnson v. United States, 520
U.S. 461, 468-469, 117 S.Ct. 1544, 137 L.Ed.2d 718 (1997). A structural error is
a “defect affecting the framework within which the trial proceeds, rather than
simply an error in the trial process itself.” Arizona v. Fulminante, 499 U.S. 279,
310, 111 S.Ct. 1246, 113 L.Ed.2d 302 (1991). A public-trial violation constitutes
structural error “because of the ‘difficulty of assessing the effect of the error,’ ”
Weaver v. Massachusetts, ___ U.S. ___, ___, 137 S.Ct. 1899, 1910, 198 L.Ed.2d
420 (2017), quoting United States v. Gonzalez-Lopez, 548 U.S. 140, 149, 126
S.Ct. 2557, 165 L.Ed.2d 409 (2006), fn. 4, and because it “furthers interests other
than protecting the defendant against unjust conviction,” id.
3. Waiver
{¶ 48} Garrett failed to object to the exclusion of minors from the
courtroom. But Garrett argues that the error was not waived by his failure to
object because the closure constituted structural error. In support of his argument,
Garrett cites State v. Bethel, 110 Ohio St.3d 416, 2006-Ohio-4853, 854 N.E.2d
150, ¶ 81, which held that the right to a public trial cannot be waived by a
defendant’s silence.
{¶ 49} But in Drummond, 111 Ohio St.3d 14, 2006-Ohio-5084, 854
N.E.2d 1038, at ¶ 59, we held in regard to a partial closure of a trial that
“counsel’s failure to object to the closing of the courtroom constitutes a waiver of
the right to a public trial.” See State v. Wilks, 154 Ohio St.3d 359, 2018-Ohio-
1562, 114 N.E.3d 1092, ¶ 70 (same). And recently, we reiterated that “the plain-
error rule * * * applies to errors that were never objected to at trial, even if those
errors can be classified as structural.” State v. McAlpin, __Ohio St.3d__, 2022-
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Ohio-1567, __N.E.3d__, ¶ 66; see also State v. West, ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2022-
Ohio-1556, ___ N.E.3d__, ¶ 28 (“assertions of structural error do not preclude an
appellate court from applying the plain-error standard when the accused has failed
to object”). Thus, Bethel does not apply. We conclude that Garrett’s failure to
make a contemporaneous objection to the trial court’s decorum order excluding
all minors under the age of 18 from the courtroom forfeited all but plain error.
4. Waller analysis
{¶ 50} In Waller, the United States Supreme Court set out a four-pronged
test for determining whether closure of the courtroom is necessary: (1) “the party
seeking to close the hearing must advance an overriding interest that is likely to
be prejudiced,” (2) “the closure must not be broader than necessary to protect that
interest,” (3) “the trial court must consider reasonable alternatives to closing the
proceeding,” and (4) “it must make findings adequate to support the closure.” Id.,467 U.S. at 48, 104 S.Ct. 2210, 81 L.Ed.2d 31.
{¶ 51} In Drummond, we held that “when a trial judge orders a partial, as
opposed to a total, closure of a court proceeding, a ‘substantial reason’ rather than
Waller’s ‘overriding interest’ will justify the closure.” Drummond at ¶ 53; see
also United States v. Simmons, 797 F.3d 409, 414 (6th Cir.2015); Woods v.
Kuhlmann, 977 F.2d 74, 76 (2d Cir.1992); United States v. Sherlock, 962 F.2d
1349, 1357 (9th Cir.1989); Nieto v. Sullivan, 879 F.2d 743, 753 (10th Cir.1989).
Here, we apply the Drummond standard because the trial court’s order excluding
minors from the courtroom was only a partial closure.
a. Whether there was a substantial reason for partial closure of the courtroom
{¶ 52} As to the first factor, concerns about evidence that would be
inappropriate for minors to hear or see arguably constitutes a substantial reason
for excluding minors from the courtroom. See State v. Hensley, 75 Ohio St. 255,
264, 79 N.E. 462 (1906), quoting Cooley, A Treatise on the Constitutional
Limitation Which Rest upon the Legislative Power of the States of the American
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Union, 379 (6th Ed.1890) (“ ‘a regard to public morals and public decency would
require that at least the young be excluded from hearing and witnessing the
evidences of human depravity’ ”). See also State v. Schmit, 273 Minn. 78, 139
N.W.2d 800, 806 (1966); Marshall v. State, 254 Ind. 156, 159, 258 N.E.2d 628(1970).
{¶ 53} Garrett argues that neither party requested the closure to minors
and that there were no security concerns associated with the trial court’s ruling.
But those points do not rebut the trial court’s substantial interest in protecting
minors from the nature of the offense or the type of evidence that was going to be
elicited.
b. Whether closure was no broader than necessary to protect the public from
age-inappropriate evidence
{¶ 54} “Modern cases applying Waller [467 U.S. 39, 104 S.Ct. 2210, 81
L.Ed.2d 31] * * * have held that exclusions of all minors from large portions of a
trial are broader than necessary to advance the legitimate interest in protecting
young children from exposure to age-inappropriate evidence.” 6 LaFave, Israel,
King, & Kerr, Criminal Procedure, Section 24.1(b), (4th Ed.2021); see also In re
G.B., 2018 COA 77, 433 P.3d 138, ¶ 37 (closing a courtroom to all spectators
under the age of 18 was broader than necessary to protect young children from
age-inappropriate evidence). Reynolds v. State, 41 Ala.App. 202, 126 So.2d 497(1961), is illustrative. In that case, the court held that a trial court’s order
excluding all people aged 18 years or less violated the defendant’s right to a
public trial, explaining: “Persons of eighteen years of age can hardly be deemed
children of ‘tender age.’ Males of that age are subject to military service. In
some states persons of that age can vote.” Id. at 204; see also In re G.B. at ¶ 39.
Moreover, the closure order was not limited in scope or duration but continued for
the entire trial.
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{¶ 55} The state argues that the closure order was narrowly tailored
because it applied only to children, its enforcement resulted in the exclusion of
one child, and the trial court agreed to revisit the order if asked. But the order
was broader than necessary to protect minors from age-inappropriate evidence; it
made no distinction between children of different ages and excluded all minors,
not just young children, from the courtroom. And neither the trial court’s
agreement to revisit the order upon request nor the number of children who had
actually been excluded from the courtroom are relevant to whether the order was
narrowly tailored in the first instance.
{¶ 56} We conclude that closing the courtroom to all minors was broader
than necessary to protect children from age-inappropriate evidence.
c. Whether the trial court considered reasonable alternatives before partially
closing the courtroom
{¶ 57} With respect to the third factor, the record does not show that the
trial court considered reasonable alternatives. The state argues that the trial court
was not required to consider such alternatives without a defense request. But
Waller, 467 U.S. 39, 104 S.Ct. 2210, 81 L.Ed.2d 31, requires that trial courts
consider reasonable alternatives “even when they are not offered by the parties.”
Presley v. Georgia, 558 U.S. 209, 214, 130 S.Ct. 721, 175 L.Ed.2d 675 (2010).
This is so because “[t]rial courts are obligated to take every reasonable measure to
accommodate public attendance at criminal trials.” Id. at 215.
{¶ 58} Because the trial court did not expressly consider any lesser
alternatives, the court failed to meet the third Waller requirement.
d. Whether the trial court made findings adequate to support its decision to
partially close the courtroom
{¶ 59} As to the final Waller factor, the trial court failed to make adequate
findings on the record to support its ruling. The state argues that the trial court
made findings when it explained that the order was based on “the nature of the
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allegations.” But Waller states that a court “must make findings adequate to
support the closure.” Id. at 48. Here, the trial court’s conclusory rationale for
closing the court to minors was not adequate. See State v. Woods, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga Nos. 94141 and 94142, 2011-Ohio-817, ¶ 26 (trial court’s failure to
fully question witness about his fear in testifying and make findings on the record
to support closure did not satisfy Waller’s fourth factor).
5. Triviality standard
{¶ 60} The state argues that because nothing in the record shows that more
than one child was denied entrance to the courtroom, the closure was “trivial.”
See United States v. Perry, 479 F.3d 885, 890 (D.C.Cir.2007). In Perry, the trial
court excluded a defendant’s eight-year-old son from the courtroom, reasoning
that the only motive for having him there was to evoke sympathy. Id. at 887-888.
On appeal, the circuit court concluded that even a problematic courtroom closure
may be too trivial to amount to a violation of the Sixth Amendment; a closure is
“trivial” when it does not implicate the values served by the Sixth Amendment.
Id. at 890. The court added that the defendant’s son’s presence would not ensure
that the judge and the prosecutor carried out their duties responsibly, discourage
perjury, or encourage any witnesses to come forward. Id. at 890-891.
{¶ 61} We have never adopted the triviality standard for evaluating
courtroom closures. But even if we were to apply the triviality standard, the
closure here would still fail because the trial court ordered the categorical
exclusion of all minors under the age of 18. And “the ‘trivial’ standard * * *
relies in most cases on an inadvertent act, which is not the situation here.” State
v. Lormor, 172 Wash.2d 85, 96, 257 P.3d 624 (2011). Thus, we reject the state’s
argument.
6. No plain error occurred
{¶ 62} As explained above, the trial court failed to satisfy at least three
prongs of the test as stated in Waller, 467 U.S. 39, 104 S.Ct. 2210, 81 L.Ed.2d 31,
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and therefore erred in closing the courtroom to all minors. But even so, Garrett
does not prevail because he has not established plain error.
{¶ 63} “Plain errors or defects affecting substantial rights may be noticed
although they were not brought to the attention of the court.” Crim.R. 52(B).
“By its very terms, [Crim.R. 52(B)] places three limitations on a reviewing
court’s decision to correct an error” that was not raised in the trial court. State v.
Barnes, 94 Ohio St.3d 21, 27, 759 N.E.2d 1240 (2002). First, an error, “i.e., a
deviation from a legal rule,” must have occurred. Id. Second, the error
complained of must be plain—that is, it must be “an ‘obvious’ defect in the trial
proceedings.” Id. “Third, the error must have affected ‘substantial rights.’ We
have interpreted this * * * to mean that the trial court’s error must have affected
the outcome of the trial.” Id.{¶ 64} Garrett does not argue that the ultimate outcome of the proceedings
(i.e., the findings of guilt and the death sentence) would have been different if the
trial court had not closed the courtroom to minors or had engaged in the proper
analysis before doing so. See State v. Tabor, 4th Dist. Jackson No. 16CA9, 2017-
Ohio-8656, ¶ 27. Thus, he has failed to establish plain error.
{¶ 65} Based on the foregoing, we reject proposition of law No. III.
B. Batson challenges
{¶ 66} In proposition of law No. V, Garrett argues that the state’s
peremptory challenges against prospective jurors 12 and 32, a biracial male and
an African-American male, violated his equal-protection rights under Batson v.
Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986).
1. Batson v. Kentucky
{¶ 67} A defendant has “the right to be tried by a jury whose members are
selected pursuant to nondiscriminatory criteria.” Id. at 85-86. Accordingly, a
constitutional violation occurs when the prosecution challenges “potential jurors
solely on account of their race or on the assumption that black jurors as a group
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will be unable impartially to consider the State’s case against a black defendant.”
Id. at 89. “The Constitution forbids striking even a single prospective juror for a
discriminatory purpose.” Flowers v. Mississippi, ___ U.S. ___, ___, 139 S.Ct.
2228, 2244, 204 L.Ed.2d 638 (2019).
{¶ 68} In Batson, the United States Supreme Court established a three-
factor test for adjudicating race-based challenges. Id. at 96. “First, the opponent
of the peremptory challenge must make a prima facie case of racial
discrimination.” State v. Bryan, 101 Ohio St.3d 272, 2004-Ohio-971, 804 N.E.2d
433, ¶ 106. If the opponent satisfies that burden, “the burden shifts to the State to
come forward with a neutral explanation for challenging black jurors.” Batson at
97. “At this step of the inquiry, the issue is the facial validity of the prosecutor’s
explanation.” Hernandez v. New York, 500 U.S. 352, 360, 111 S.Ct. 1859, 114
L.Ed.2d 395 (1991). Although it is not enough to simply deny a discriminatory
motive or assert good faith, Batson at 98, the “explanation need not rise to the
level justifying exercise of a challenge for cause,” id. at 97.
{¶ 69} Finally, “the trial court must decide based on all the circumstances,
whether the opponent has proved purposeful racial discrimination.” Bryan at
¶ 106; see also Batson, 476 U.S. at 98, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69. “The trial
judge must determine whether the prosecutor’s stated reasons were the actual
reasons or instead were a pretext for discrimination.” Flowers at ___, 139 S.Ct. at
2241. The court must “assess the plausibility of” the prosecutor’s reason for
striking the juror “in light of all evidence with a bearing on it.” Miller-El v.
Dretke, 545 U.S. 231, 252, 125 S.Ct. 2317, 162 L.Ed.2d 196 (2005) (“Miller-El
II”). Relevant factors may include “the prosecutor’s demeanor; by how
reasonable, or how improbable, the explanations are; and by whether the
proffered rationale has some basis in accepted trial strategy.” Miller-El v.
Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 339, 123 S.Ct. 1029, 154 L.Ed.2d 931 (2003) (“Miller-El
I”). “In addition, race-neutral reasons for peremptory challenges often invoke a
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juror’s demeanor (e.g., nervousness, inattention), making the trial court’s
firsthand observations of even greater importance.” Snyder v. Louisiana, 552
U.S. 472, 477, 128 S.Ct. 1203, 170 L.Ed.2d 175 (2008).
{¶ 70} The trial court’s finding at step three “is entitled to deference, since
it turns largely ‘on evaluation of credibility.’ ” State v. White, 85 Ohio St.3d 433,
437, 709 N.E.2d 140 (1999), quoting Batson, 476 U.S. at 98, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90
L.Ed.2d 69, fn. 21. Accordingly, “[a] trial court’s findings of no discriminatory
intent will not be reversed on appeal unless clearly erroneous.” Bryan at ¶ 106;
see also Miller-El I at 340. If, however, a trial court does err in applying Batson,
the error is structural. See United States v. McFerron, 163 F.3d 952, 955-956 (6th
Cir.1998) (cataloging federal appellate courts that have unanimously and
“resoundingly” rejected arguments that Batson errors are subject to harmless-error
review).
2. Prospective juror No. 12
a. Relevant facts
{¶ 71} The juror questionnaire asked the jurors, “Have you, or any
member of your family, or close friend ever been a victim of a crime?”
Prospective juror No. 12 checked “yes” and wrote, “He was killed.” Jurors were
also asked, “What are your general feelings about law enforcement?” Prospective
juror No. 12 wrote: “Not a fan.” Another question asked: “Do you believe that
police do/do not (circle one) carefully investigate criminal cases? Please explain
why you feel this way.” Prospective juror No. 12 circled “do not” and wrote: “I
believe there are crooked cops out there.” Prospective juror No. 12 was not asked
about these subjects during individual or general voir dire.
{¶ 72} The state peremptorily challenged prospective juror No. 12 and
defense counsel made a Batson challenge. The prosecuting attorney provided the
following reasons for the peremptory challenge:
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His questionnaire indicated he had a family member who
was killed. He didn’t volunteer that when other jurors did that at
the same time. He—In his questionnaire also when asked about his
feelings about law enforcement, he said he’s not a fan, quote,
unquote.
And he had another comment about do you believe that
police do not—He circled do not carefully investigate a criminal
case. Explain your reasons why. He says he believes the reason
was there’s crooked cops out there.
So considering all those things, Your Honor, the State felt
that it was appropriate to use a peremptory in light of those
statements on his questionnaire.
(Emphasis added.) When asked if he had a response, defense counsel stated, “No,
Your Honor, just making the record.” The trial court overruled the Batson
challenge, finding that there was “no discriminatory intent to strike [prospective
juror No. 12] and that the State of Ohio has given race-neutral reasons for
excluding [prospective juror No. 12].”
b. Analysis
{¶ 73} Garrett asserts that the prosecutor’s second reason for striking
prospective juror No. 12 (negative views of law enforcement) was pretextual,
because prospective juror No. 12 stated on his questionnaire that he did not
believe that criminals were treated too leniently. Garrett also argues that the
prosecutor’s race-neutral explanation was “specious” because this is not a case in
which law-enforcement testimony was challenged.
{¶ 74} Comparing prospective juror No. 12’s voir dire answers to the
answers given by individuals who served on Garrett’s jury is a crucial step in
analyzing this claim. In Miller-El II, the Supreme Court held: “If a prosecutor’s
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proffered reason for striking a black panelist applies just as well to an otherwise-
similar nonblack who is permitted to serve, that is evidence tending to prove
purposeful discrimination to be considered at Batson’s third step.” Id., 545 U.S.
at 241, 125 S.Ct. 2317, 162 L.Ed.2d 196. Seated juror No. 2 believed that
“generally good people” serve in law enforcement, but that “the unions protect
many bad ones.” Seated juror No. 41’s feelings about law enforcement were
“[n]egative as of the past few years” and believed that there was some corruption
with criminal investigations.
{¶ 75} Arguably, prospective juror No. 12’s answers were not that
dissimilar from the answers of two seated jurors. But unlike any of the seated
jurors, prospective juror No. 12 answered on the questionnaire that he did not
believe that the police carefully investigate criminal cases. Thus, the record does
not support Garrett’s claim that the prosecutor’s second race-neutral explanation
for striking prospective juror No. 12 was pretextual. See State v. Frazier, 115
Ohio St.3d 139, 2007-Ohio-5048, 873 N.E.2d 1263, ¶ 94-95. Prospective juror
No. 12’s peremptory challenge was not a Batson violation.
3. Prospective juror No. 32
a. Relevant facts
{¶ 76} The juror questionnaire revealed that prospective juror No. 32 had
a previous conviction for robbery. Prospective juror No. 32 also had a brother
who had been in a federal penitentiary in Florida. The prosecutor did not ask
prospective juror No. 32 about either of these subjects during voir dire.
{¶ 77} During individual voir dire, prospective juror No. 32 assured the
prosecutor that he would be fair and open minded in considering the evidence and
“would listen to everything.” He said that he “wouldn’t be against death if it
amounted to that.”
{¶ 78} During general voir dire, the assistant prosecutor inquired whether
any of the prospective jurors would be unable to follow the instruction that “one
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witness if believed by you, is sufficient to prove any fact.” She then asked: “Is
there anyone here who says, nope, can’t follow that instruction, I need at least two
witnesses?” Prospective juror No. 32 raised his hand.
{¶ 79} The assistant prosecutor and prospective juror No. 32 then engaged
in a lengthy colloquy involving a hypothetical concerning whether a pilot who
testified that he flew the Goodyear Blimp over an Ohio stadium would be all that
would be necessary to prove the fact that that pilot indeed flew the Goodyear
Blimp over an Ohio stadium. Prospective juror No. 32 expressed concerns about
accepting only the hypothetical pilot’s testimony, stating that he would want “a
little more proof.” He explained that “just because [someone] say[s] [he] did it
doesn’t make it so.” Prospective juror No. 32 also expressed other concerns about
the hypothetical pilot’s testimony, questioning how convincing the pilot’s
testimony would be and whether there would have been other evidence to
corroborate his account.
{¶ 80} The assistant prosecutor then abandoned the hypothetical,
continuing the conversation with prospective juror No. 32 as follows:
[ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR]: So, [prospective juror No.
32], there will be people that come into this courtroom and they
will be talking about, you know, things that they saw, things that
they heard, things that they did as police officers in the
investigation. Some of that is going to be recorded and you’ll get
to see it, but a lot of it isn’t. And so what we’re trying to do is
make sure that there might be some things that an officer comes in
here and says and he’s the only single person that says that. What
I want to do is make sure that you can follow that instruction one
witness, if believed by you—
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 32: Right.
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January Term, 2022
[ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR]: —And you’re not
looking for, you know, like a video of him doing that.
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 32: But I’m saying the
difference between an officer—An officer is at a crime scene, so
he’s seen something, he’s been there. He’s not just saying I drove
by the crime scene and that happened. You know because I’m
saying I’ve seen crime scenes before where officers stay there all
night if they have to. So, you know, what I’m saying is that if
something is going on and an officer is there, he doesn’t have no
reason to lie if he sat there.
***
[ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR]: We would be talking
about, you know, things the officer did in the investigation, going
to a place to find evidence, a witness coming upon a scene and
what that witness saw, heard at that scene and there might not be
anyone else who can corroborate that. What do you. think about
that?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 32: It all depends on how
convincing they are.
(Capitalization sic.) The trial court then discussed the one-witness rule and
questioned prospective juror No. 32 as follows:
THE COURT: Ladies and gentlemen, you know, you’re
going to get an instruction at the end of the trial that one witness, if
believed by you, is sufficient to prove any fact. Now, there’s a big
qualifier in there, if believed by you. If you don’t believe the
witness, you don’t have to accept their conclusions as proof of
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anything; but if you believe that witness beyond a reasonable
doubt, the instruction is that you can accept that as a proven fact.
Can you do that, [prospective juror No. 32]?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 32: Yeah, I could.
THE COURT: Okay. If you believed that witness, you
believe what they’re saying, you believe everything they’re
testifying about, you can—You can follow that instruction?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 32: Right.
(Capitalization sic.)
{¶ 81} The prosecutor peremptorily challenged prospective juror No. 32,
and defense counsel objected based on Batson, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90
L.Ed.2d 69. The prosecutor offered three reasons for challenging prospective
juror No. 32: (1) he had a prior robbery conviction, (2) the juror’s brother either
was or had been in a federal prison, and (3) the juror’s statements called into
question whether he could follow the one-witness instruction. The prosecutor
concluded: “So I think considering all those matters he would be an appropriate
exercise of a peremptory not related to his race.” (Emphasis added.)
{¶ 82} When the trial court asked defense counsel whether he had any
response to the prosecutor’s explanation, defense counsel responded, “No, no, just
appreciate the record.”
{¶ 83} The trial court then made the following findings:
[T]he State has provided several race-neutral reasons for excusing
the juror. The Court finds that they’re not pre-textual. Quite
frankly, some of [prospective juror No. 32’s] responses, both two
weeks ago and today, are a little bit—He has a different thought
process. I think he marches to a different drummer. And that’s
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January Term, 2022
based on my observations of him two weeks ago and today. Very
nice man, but I did have some concerns about his response to the
one witness instruction. So I do find that the State’s challenge to
[prospective juror No. 32] is good and will overrule the Batson
challenge as to him.
b. Analysis
{¶ 84} As for the state’s first reason for using a peremptory challenge to
excuse prospective juror No. 32 (the prior robbery conviction), the prosecutor
stated that prospective juror No. 32 had a robbery conviction. But prospective
juror No. 32’s questionnaire did not identify whether he was the principal
offender in committing the offense, and other than the fact that the questionnaire
stated that there was “no gun,” there were no additional details about the crime.
Regardless of whether prospective juror No. 32 was the principal offender, courts
have “recognized that the potential bias that may result from a prospective juror’s
or his or her family’s experiences with the criminal justice system may be a
legitimate, racially-neutral reason for exercising a peremptory challenge against
the prospective juror.” State v. May, 2015-Ohio-4275, 49 N.E.3d 736, ¶ 51 (8th
Dist.); see also State v. King, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-060335, 2007-Ohio-4879,
¶ 30.
{¶ 85} The same holds true for the state’s second reason, that prospective
juror No. 32’s brother was (or had been) in a federal prison. Garrett claims that
the state never asked prospective juror No. 32 about his brother’s incarceration.
But this is not a situation in which the prosecutor’s failure to question a
prospective juror about his imprisoned family member indicates that his reason
for striking prospective juror No. 32 was a sham, because none of the seated
jurors indicated that they had had family members in prison. Thus, the
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prosecutor’s second reason was a valid race-neutral reason for peremptorily
challenging prospective juror No. 32.
{¶ 86} As for the prosecutor’s third reason (prospective juror No. 32’s
responses pertaining to the one-witness instruction), the state argues in its merit
brief that prospective juror No. 32’s answers provided ample reasons to question
whether he could be a fair juror. Garrett argues that prospective juror No. 32
assured the trial court that he could follow the law, including the one-witness
instruction.
{¶ 87} The trial court expressed concern about prospective juror No. 32’s
answers to the one-witness instruction. The trial court also said that prospective
juror No. 32 appeared to have a “different thought process” and that he seemed to
“march[] to a different drummer.” The trial court’s firsthand observations are
entitled to deference. As the United States Supreme Court has stated, “[i]n this
situation, the trial court must evaluate not only whether the prosecutor’s demeanor
belies a discriminatory intent, but also whether the juror’s demeanor can credibly
be said to have exhibited the basis for the strike attributed to the juror by the
prosecutor.” Snyder, 552 U.S. at 477, 128 S.Ct. 1203, 170 L.Ed.2d 175. Thus,
the prosecutor’s third reason was also a valid race-neutral reason for the strike.
{¶ 88} Based on the foregoing, we reject proposition of law No. V.
C. Voluntariness of police statements
{¶ 89} In proposition of law No. VI, Garrett argues that the trial court
erred in denying his motion to suppress his police statements on January 5 and 7
because they were not voluntary.
1. Relevant facts
{¶ 90} Before trial, Garrett moved to suppress the statements that he gave
to police on January 5 and January 7, 2018. Garrett argued that his January 5
statement was involuntary because police threatened him with the death penalty
and promised leniency if he cooperated. Garrett argued that his January 7
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statement had been tainted by the first interview and thus was also inadmissible.
The parties stipulated to the evidence in the record, and no witnesses testified
during the hearing on Garrett’s motion.
{¶ 91} The trial court denied the motion to suppress, finding that the
police officers’ statements about the death penalty and their offers of leniency did
not render Garrett’s January 5 and 7 statements involuntary. The trial court also
ruled that even if the January 5 statement was involuntary, any possible taint did
not extend to Garrett’s January 7 statement.
a. January 5 interview
{¶ 92} On January 5, Detective Porter and Sergeant Sicilian interviewed
Garrett at the Columbus Police Department. Before the interview started, Garrett
stated that he was a high school graduate, had no hearing or vision problems, and
had not used drugs or alcohol during the last 12 to 24 hours. Garrett told police
that he had cut his hand on a steak knife and that he had stitched the injury
himself.
{¶ 93} After Garrett waived his Miranda rights, Detective Porter told
Garrett that Nicole and C.D. had been stabbed and that he believed that Garrett’s
blood and DNA would be found at the scene. Garrett denied killing them and said
that no evidence linking him to the murders would be found. Detective Porter
stated: “If * * * we can talk like men and you can give me a reason, even if it
seems [like] it paints you in a bad light for a while * * * it is going to look better.”
{¶ 94} As the interview continued, Garrett asked, “What ends up
happening to a lot of people that ends up in my position right now * * * after it is
all said and done?” Detective Porter replied that “a lot of this” depended on
Garrett and whether he was cooperative and showed genuine remorse. Garrett
then asked Detective Porter whether Detective Porter was referring to “a plea deal
or something like that.” Detective Porter responded, “That’s not up to me.”
Detective Porter added: “I will go to bat for you. I am not lying about that. It’s
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not a line. I am telling you the truth. * * * I will speak on your behalf in this
situation if you are truthful with me.”
{¶ 95} Following a period in which Garrett had little to say, Sergeant
Sicilian said: “The other major thing here if you don’t explain why this thing
happened today * * * in about 10 years, 15 years, they are going to put a needle in
your arm. That’s how bad this is if you don’t explain it. I would not lie to you,
okay? That is how serious it is.” Sergeant Sicilian then said, “We talk to
prosecutors. It’s not a death penalty case. He lost it. A fit of rage. He was in a
corner. The man’s human. It’s just how he responded to stress.” Sergeant
Sicilian also said, “If we don’t have an explanation * * * that’s what you’re gonna
face.”
{¶ 96} After the death penalty had been mentioned, Garrett asked, “If
somebody [is] in the position that I am right now being possibly charged with two
homicides they wouldn’t get the death penalty, would they get like 135 years?”
Sergeant Sicilian replied, “That is up to the prosecutors and not up to us.” He
added, “Whatever ends up happening is going to almost certainly depend upon
your truthfulness and level of cooperation.” Sergeant Sicilian also said, “I have
never heard of anybody coming into this interview room, giving a truthful
statement and getting a death penalty. * * * It does not happen.”
{¶ 97} As the interview continued, Sergeant Sicilian mentioned the parole
board. Garrett said that “there [would be] no board” because he was facing two
murder charges. Sergeant Sicilian told Garrett that that was untrue. And
Detective Porter added that “even Charles Manson went up for parole. * * * And
he killed a lot of people. * * * The law is you go up for parole. * * * You
automatically go up for it. And they review what kind of inmate you have been.”
{¶ 98} About two and one-half hours after the interview started, Garrett
asked about receiving medical treatment for his hand and he was told that he
would be taken to the hospital before going to jail. About an hour later, Garrett
30
January Term, 2022
asked whether the officers had “something for his hand.” Detective Porter said:
“We don’t until we get you to a medical facility.” Detective Porter then asked
whether Garrett had finished answering questions. Garrett did not respond, and
the interview continued.
{¶ 99} Later in the interview, Detective Porter told Garrett that “this silent
treatment you’re doing is going to end with a needle in your arm.” Garrett was
told, “You are going to see the pictures of your daughter and you are going to go
to death row.” Thereafter, Garrett acknowledged that he went to Nicole’s house
that morning, that he had cut his hand there, and that it was his blood on the
driveway. Garrett then asked to have his hand treated and the interview ended.
b. January 7 interview
{¶ 100} On January 7, Garrett requested to talk to Detective Porter and
Detective Porter reinterviewed Garrett at the hospital. After reaffirming that
Garrett waived his Miranda rights, Garrett stated that he wanted to provide a full
confession. But Garrett told Detective Porter that as a preliminary matter, he
wanted his story to be posted and explained on Facebook. Garrett stated that he
was “100 percent coherent” and that he had had “a lot of time to think.” Neither
the death penalty nor other potential penalties had been mentioned. Garrett then
confessed to killing Nicole and C.D., disclosed where he hid the knife and the
clothes he was wearing when he committed the murders, and explained that he
went to a hospital in Dayton to have his injured hand treated.
2. Analysis
{¶ 101} If a defendant challenges a confession as involuntary, the state
must prove a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver by a preponderance of
evidence. See Colorado v. Connelly, 479 U.S. 157, 168-169, 107 S.Ct. 515, 93
L.Ed.2d 473 (1986). Voluntariness of a confession is determined by “the totality
of the circumstances, including the age, mentality, and prior criminal experience
of the accused; the length, intensity, and frequency of interrogation; the existence
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of physical deprivation or mistreatment; and the existence of threat or
inducement.” State v. Edwards, 49 Ohio St.2d 31, 358 N.E.2d 1051 (1976),
paragraph two of the syllabus. A waiver will not be deemed to be involuntary
“unless there is evidence of police coercion, such as physical abuse, threats, or
deprivation of food, medical treatment, or sleep.” (Emphasis sic.) State v.
Wesson, 137 Ohio St.3d 309, 2013-Ohio-4575, 999 N.E.2d 557, ¶ 35.
{¶ 102} Other than the fact that Garrett was in police custody, nothing
about the circumstances of his interrogation was inherently coercive. At the time
of the offense, Garrett was a 24-year-old high-school graduate. Detective Porter
testified that the first interview had lasted seven hours, but Garrett was offered
water during the January 5 interview and was permitted to use the bathroom. See
State v. Belton, 149 Ohio St.3d 165, 2016-Ohio-1581, 74 N.E.3d 319, ¶ 108 (that
defendant was offered beverages, permitted to smoke, and use the bathroom
supported a finding of voluntariness).
{¶ 103} Garrett argues that his January 5 statement was involuntary
because the police lied to him about potentially receiving lenient treatment.
Detective Porter may have misled Garrett that he would “go to bat” for Garrett if
he was truthful about what happened. Sergeant Sicilian assured Garrett that his
case was not a death-penalty case. However, “the presence of promises does not
as a matter of law, render a confession involuntary.” Edwards at 41. Officers
may discuss the advantages of telling the truth, advise suspects that cooperation
will be considered, or even suggest that a court may be lenient with a truthful
defendant. Id. Garrett was not guaranteed leniency if he cooperated with the
police. The investigator’s statements were not unduly coercive. See State v.
Western, 2015-Ohio-627, 29 N.E.3d 245, ¶ 46 (2d Dist.).
{¶ 104} Next, Garrett argues that Detective Porter’s and Sergeant
Sicilian’s threats about the death penalty coerced him into making an involuntary
statement. A brief reference to the death penalty does not by itself, render a
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subsequent confession involuntary when the statement merely illustrates the
seriousness of the crime and the defendant’s will was not overborne as a result of
the statement. State v. Ford, 158 Ohio St.3d 139, 2019-Ohio-4539, 140 N.E.3d
616, ¶ 201. Moreover, a constitutional violation occurs only when the confession
results directly from the threat that capital punishment will be imposed if the
suspect is uncooperative and a promise of leniency is made in exchange for the
suspect’s cooperation. Id.; see also People v. Winbush, 2 Cal.5th 402, 453, 213
Cal.Rptr.3d 1, 387 P.3d 1187 (2017).
{¶ 105} Detective Porter and Sergeant Sicilian made multiple comments
about the death penalty during the interview. They did not misstate the law in
telling Garrett that the death penalty was a potential punishment for the murders.
Nor did they claim to have any authority to decide how Garrett would be charged.
Sergeant Sicilian told Garrett that a decision about seeking the death penalty in
the case would be “up to the prosecutors.” And when Garrett had inquired into
plea deals, Detective Porter explained that any decision to offer a plea deal was
not up to him.
{¶ 106} The trial court’s findings of fact characterized Garrett’s
interaction with the police as “cagey,” because Garrett was trying to surmise the
strength of the evidence against him during the interview. In concluding that
Garrett’s will was not overborne, the trial court determined that Garrett’s silence
was “not due to fear or intimidation by police, but was a cunning effort to assess
the progress of the investigation.” “[A]n appellate court accords great deference
to the trial court’s findings of fact.” See State v. Robinson, 9th Dist. Summit No.
16766, 1995 WL 9424, *6 (Jan. 11, 1995). Thus, we find that the investigators’
comments about the death penalty did not render Garrett’s January 5 statement
involuntary.
{¶ 107} Finally, Garrett argues that the refusal of the investigators to
obtain medical aid for his injured hand rendered his confession involuntary.
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When the interview started on January 5, Garrett told Detective Porter that he had
cut his hand with a steak knife while trying to open a package, but he did not
mention that he had already received medical treatment, nor did he request
additional medical treatment. When Garrett later asked about receiving treatment
for his hand, he was told that he would be taken to a hospital after the interview
was over. And Garrett continued with the interview after he was asked whether
he was finished answering questions. Once Garrett finished answering questions
and asked to have his hand treated, the interview ended. Thus, Garrett’s
confession was not involuntary based on when Detective Porter and Sergeant
Sicilian sought medical care for his hand.
{¶ 108} Based on the totality of the circumstances, we conclude that
Garrett’s January 5 police statements were voluntary.
{¶ 109} Garrett claims that his January 7 statement was inadmissible
because it was tainted by his previous involuntary statement. But as explained
above, Garrett’s January 5 statement was voluntary. And even if it had not been,
there was a “break in the stream of events * * * sufficient to insulate” Garrett’s
January 7 statement from his January 5 interrogation. Clewis v. Texas, 386 U.S.
707, 710, 87 S.Ct. 1338, 18 L.Ed.2d 423 (1967); see also Oregon v. Elstad, 470
U.S. 298, 310, 105 S.Ct. 1285, 84 L.Ed.2d 222 (1985) (“the time that passes
between confessions, the change in place of interrogations, and the change in
identity of the interrogators all bear on whether that coercion has carried over into
the second confession”).
{¶ 110} Garrett also claims that he was in pain and was not free to leave
the hospital when he made his second statement. But it was Garrett who
requested the second interview. And at the beginning of the January 7 interview,
Garrett told Detective Porter that he was 100 percent coherent and that he had
plenty of time to think. And nothing further was mentioned about the death
penalty or other potential penalties during that interview. Thus, under the totality
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of the circumstances, we conclude that Garrett’s January 7 statement was
voluntary.
{¶ 111} Based on the foregoing, we reject proposition of law No. VI.
D. Gruesome photographs
{¶ 112} In proposition of law No. IV, Garrett argues that the trial court
erred in admitting gruesome crime-scene and autopsy photographs. However,
defense counsel did not object to this evidence at trial, so Garrett must prove plain
error. See State v. Trimble, 122 Ohio St.3d 297, 2009-Ohio-2961, 911 N.E.2d
242, ¶ 132.
{¶ 113} We have “strongly caution[ed] judicious use” of gruesome
photographs in capital cases. State v. Morales, 32 Ohio St.3d 252, 259, 513
N.E.2d 267 (1987). To be admissible, the probative value of each photograph
must not be substantially outweighed by the danger of prejudice to the defendant,
Evid.R. 403(A). See State v. Maurer, 15 Ohio St.3d 239, 264-266, 473 N.E.2d
768 (1984). And a relevant photograph may be excluded if it is needlessly
repetitive or cumulative in nature, Evid.R. 403(B). Id. The admission of
gruesome photographs is left to the trial court’s sound discretion. State v. Vrabel,
99 Ohio St.3d 184, 2003-Ohio-3193, 790 N.E.2d 303, ¶ 69.
1. Crime-scene photos
{¶ 114} Garrett complains about 17 crime-scene photographs. State’s
exhibit Nos. E22 and E25 are gruesome close-up photographs of Nicole’s and
C.D.’s heads and faces as they were found at the crime scene. These photographs
were highly relevant to illustrate the testimony of the police officers who
processed the crime scene.
{¶ 115} State’s exhibit No. E23 shows a wound on Nicole’s fingers and
state’s exhibit No. E26 shows wounds on the palms of C.D.’s left hand. Neither
photo is particularly gruesome. Both photos were relevant in showing that Nicole
and C.D. tried to defend themselves when they were attacked with a knife. Each
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photo was highly “probative of [the defendant’s] intent and the manner and
circumstances of the victims’ deaths,” Trimble, 122 Ohio St.3d 297, 2009-Ohio-
2961, 911 N.E.2d 242, at ¶ 134, and the probative value of each outweighed the
danger of unfair prejudice, id. at ¶ 133.
{¶ 116} Garrett also complains about repetitive photos depicting Nicole’s
and C.D.’s bodies at the crime scene. State’s exhibit Nos. E18 through E21 and
E24 are gruesome photos that were relevant to show that Nicole and C.D. were
violently attacked. Those photographs also show the location of their bodies. But
these exhibits are repetitive and only one of the closeups, state’s exhibit Nos. E21
or E24, should have been admitted. Nevertheless, because of the overwhelming
evidence of guilt, Garrett has failed to show that any such error prejudiced him by
affecting the outcome of the trial. No plain error occurred.
{¶ 117} None of the remaining crime-scene photos that Garrett complains
about are gruesome, and therefore there was no error in admitting them. See State
v. Froman, 162 Ohio St.3d 435, 2020-Ohio-4523, 165 N.E.3d 1198, ¶ 105.
{¶ 118} Finally, because the defense did not contest the cause and manner
of death of each victim, Garrett argues that multiple crime-scene photos should
not have been admitted. In Ford, we criticized the use of too many crime-scene
and autopsy photographs in murder trials because gruesome photos expose the
jurors to horrific images and often serve no useful purpose except to inflame the
passions of the jurors. Ford states that “[a] few crime-scene photos showing the
body along with the coroner’s testimony will often suffice.” Id., 158 Ohio St.3d
139, 2019-Ohio-4539, 140 N.E.3d 616, at ¶ 257. Not too many crime-scene
photos were admitted here, and no plain error occurred.
2. Nicole’s autopsy photos
{¶ 119} Garrett argues that the trial court erred in admitting five autopsy
photographs of Nicole.
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January Term, 2022
{¶ 120} State’s exhibit Nos. H2 and H4 depict different views of the stab
and incised wounds to Nicole’s head after the blood was removed. State’s exhibit
No. H3 shows a stab wound that punctured Nicole’s lung. State’s exhibit No. H5
shows a 2.8-centimeter-long incised wound below the chin. And state’s exhibit
No. H6 shows a 14.5-centimeter-long incised wound behind her right ear. These
photographs are gruesome. Yet each of these nonrepetitive photographs illustrate
Dr. Daniels’s testimony about Nicole’s wounds and her cause of death. The
probative value of each photograph is not substantially outweighed by any
prejudicial impact. No plain error was committed in admitting them.
3. C.D.’s autopsy photos
{¶ 121} Garrett also argues that the trial court erred in admitting four
autopsy photographs of C.D.
{¶ 122} State’s exhibit Nos. J3 and J4 show horrific incised wounds to
both sides of C.D.’s face. State’s exhibit No. J2 shows incised wounds on the
back of C.D.’s head and behind her right ear and a stab wound on the top of her
head. And state’s exhibit No. J5 depicts an entrance wound that “carried 3/4 of an
inch into the left parietal lobe of the brain.” Each of these photographs illustrated
Dr. Daniels’s testimony about C.D.’s wounds and the cause of death. We
conclude that the probative value of each photograph is not substantially
outweighed by any prejudicial impact.
{¶ 123} Citing Ford, 158 Ohio St.3d 139, 2019-Ohio-4539, 140 N.E.3d
616, Garrett argues that the mode and manner of death were not contested and
that these photographs only served to inflame the passions of the jury. But the
few autopsy photographs that were admitted did not result in plain error.
{¶ 124} Based on the foregoing, we reject proposition of law No. IV.
E. Sufficiency and manifest weight of the evidence
{¶ 125} In proposition of law No. VII, Garrett challenges the sufficiency
and manifest weight of the evidence of his convictions for (1) the aggravated
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murder of C.D. with prior calculation and design, (2) the aggravated murder of
C.D., a child under the age of 13 years, and (3) the death-penalty specifications
attached to those charges.
1. Sufficiency of the evidence
{¶ 126} In reviewing a record for sufficiency, “[t]he relevant inquiry is
whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution,
any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime
proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio St.3d 259, 574
N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus, following Jackson v. Virginia,
443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979).
{¶ 127} Garrett argues that his convictions of Counts Two and Three and
the attached death-penalty specifications must be reversed, because he established
by a preponderance of the evidence that he was NGRI. But sanity is not an
element of the offense of aggravated murder; rather, insanity is an affirmative
defense, State v. Taylor, 98 Ohio St.3d 27, 2002-Ohio-7017, 781 N.E.2d 72, ¶ 64;
R.C. 2901.01(A)(14). An affirmative defense has no bearing on the sufficiency of
the evidence underlying a conviction. As we held in State v. Hancock, 108 Ohio
St.3d 57, 2006-Ohio-160, 840 N.E.2d 1032, “ ‘the due process “sufficient
evidence” guarantee does not implicate affirmative defenses, because proof
supportive of an affirmative defense cannot detract from proof beyond a
reasonable doubt that the accused had committed the requisite elements of the
crime.’ ” Id. at ¶ 37, quoting Caldwell v. Russell, 181 F.3d 731, 740 (6th
Cir.1999).
{¶ 128} Garrett urges us to revisit our decision in Hancock and address the
sufficiency of the evidence as it relates to insanity. But Garrett sets forth no
rationale for overturning Hancock. Thus, we reject Garrett’s insufficiency claims
as to Counts Two and Three and the specifications based on his insanity claim.
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January Term, 2022
{¶ 129} Garrett also quotes Clark v. Arizona, 548 U.S. 735, 126 S.Ct.
2709, 165 L.Ed.2d 842 (2006), in support of his argument that his mental health
remains relevant in evaluating his mens rea. In Clark, the appellant challenged
Arizona law that allowed mental-disease and capacity evidence to be considered
only for its bearing on an insanity defense and not on the element of mens rea.
But the Supreme Court rejected Clark’s argument, holding that Arizona’s
limitation on the consideration of mental-disease or capacity evidence to its
bearing on the insanity defense did not violate due process. Id. at 778-779. Thus,
Clark does not require this court to consider Dr. Reardon’s testimony as it may
have been relevant to Garrett’s mens rea.
{¶ 130} Garrett also argues that there is insufficient evidence to prove the
element of prior calculation and design to support his convictions for Counts Two
and Three.2
{¶ 131} Garrett argues that the state’s evidence was insufficient to prove
that he intended to kill C.D., because there was no evidence that their relationship
was strained and he told police that he did not believe that C.D. would be at the
house when he confronted Nicole.
{¶ 132} “The phrase ‘prior calculation and design’ by its own terms
suggests advance reasoning to formulate the purpose to kill.” State v. Walker, 150
Ohio St.3d 409, 2016-Ohio-8295, 82 N.E.3d 1124, ¶ 18. There is no bright-line
test to distinguish between the presence or absence of prior calculation and
design; each case depends upon its own facts. Id. at ¶ 19. Though they are not
dispositive, courts traditionally consider three factors in determining whether
prior calculation and design exists: “(1) Did the accused and victim know each
other, and if so, was that relationship strained? (2) Did the accused give thought
2. Although Garrett claims there is insufficient evidence of prior calculation and design to support
his convictions for the death-penalty specifications attached to Counts Two and Three, prior
calculation and design is not an element of those specifications.
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or preparation to choosing the murder weapon or murder site? and (3) Was the act
drawn out or ‘an almost instantaneous eruption of events?’ ” State v. Taylor, 78
Ohio St.3d 15, 19, 676 N.E.2d 82 (1997), quoting State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio
App.2d 99, 102, 355 N.E.2d 825 (8th Dist.1976).
{¶ 133} There is sufficient evidence for any rational trier of fact to find
that Garrett killed C.D. with prior calculation and design. The jury could
conclude that Garrett went to C.D.’s house with the intention of killing her.
Evidence established that Garrett was behind on child-custody payments for C.D.
and that he had just received notification that the child-support agency was going
to take away his driver’s license. Garrett took a large knife with him from his
home, went to Nicole’s house, waited for C.D. and Nicole to walk outside, and
then walked up the driveway and repeatedly stabbed them.
{¶ 134} Alternatively, the jury could conclude that even if Garrett did not
go to the house with the intent to kill C.D., he formed the intent to kill C.D. after
he killed Nicole. This theory is supported by Garrett’s admission to police that he
killed C.D. because C.D. saw Garrett murder Nicole. It is also supported by
Garrett’s statement to Dr. Reardon that he killed C.D. because he “refused to let
anyone else raise [his] child. [He] didn’t want [his] daughter to grow up without a
dad like [he] had. [Garrett] couldn’t do that to her.”
{¶ 135} Garrett claims that Detective Porter put words in his mouth by
suggesting that Garrett killed C.D. because she saw him kill Nicole. But when
Detective Porter asked Garrett during the January 7 interview whether Garrett had
killed C.D. because “she saw [him] do it to her mom,” Garrett replied, “Yes,
because of that.” Thus, this claim lacks merit.
2. Manifest weight
{¶ 136} A claim that a jury verdict is against the manifest weight of the
evidence involves a different test.
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January Term, 2022
To evaluate a claim that a jury verdict is against the
manifest weight of the evidence, we review the entire record,
weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the
credibility of witnesses, and determine whether in resolving
conflicts in the evidence, the jury clearly lost its way and created
such a manifest miscarriage of justice that we must reverse the
conviction and order a new trial.
Wilks, 154 Ohio St.3d 359, 2018-Ohio-1562, 114 N.E.3d 1092, at ¶ 168.
{¶ 137} Garrett argues that the verdict as to Counts Two and Three and
the death-penalty specifications was against the manifest weight of the evidence.
He claims the evidence shows he did not act purposely or with prior calculation
and design and that a preponderance of the evidence shows that he was NGRI.
{¶ 138} Dr. Reardon concluded that Garrett was insane at the time he
murdered C.D. because of an “acute dissociative episode,” and that “he was
unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of his acts.” Dr. Martell, the state’s expert,
disagreed with Dr. Reardon for two reasons: (1) because Dr. Reardon’s diagnosis
was based on Garrett’s self-reporting that he was unable to recall killing C.D. and
(2) because of the severity of the attack on her. Dr. Martell also stated that there
were “a number of behaviors before, during and after the killings that reflect upon
Garrett’s knowledge of wrongfulness regarding the killings,” including: (1) telling
Dr. Reardon that he debated with himself whether to do it or go home, right up to
the moment of the attack, (2) deciding to kill C.D. because she saw Garrett kill
Nicole, (3) fleeing the crime scene with the murder weapon, (4) hiding the knife
and his bloody clothes, and (5) denying any knowledge of the murders to the
police and lying to them about how he cut his hand.
{¶ 139} Garrett argues that Dr. Reardon’s testimony is more credible
because, unlike Dr. Martell, Dr. Reardon met with Garrett, performed robust
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testing, and conducted numerous interviews. But the fact that one expert
interviewed Garrett and reviewed additional materials did not compel the jury to
accept that expert’s diagnosis. See State v. Self, 4th Dist. Ross No. 04CA2767,
2005-Ohio-1259, ¶ 22. When the jury hears testimony from competing experts
with opposite opinions, such that the evidence was susceptible to more than one
interpretation, as here, the jury’s verdict is not against the manifest weight of the
evidence. See State v. Thomas, 70 Ohio St.2d 79, 79-81, 434 N.E.2d 1356 (1982).
{¶ 140} In addition, Garrett’s police statement that he killed C.D. because
she witnessed him kill her mother strongly suggests that he was not insane when
he murdered C.D. And as Dr. Martell stated, Garrett’s actions after murdering
C.D. belie his NGRI claim.
{¶ 141} “ ‘The discretionary power to grant a new trial should be
exercised only in the exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily
against the conviction.’ ” Hancock, 108 Ohio St.3d 57, 2006-Ohio-160, 840
N.E.2d 1032, at ¶ 42, quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175, 485
N.E.2d 717 (1st Dist.1983). The evidence does not weigh heavily in favor of
finding insanity. Thus, we reject Garrett’s manifest weight argument.
{¶ 142} Based on the foregoing, we reject proposition of law No. VII.
F. Prosecutorial misconduct
{¶ 143} In proposition of law No. XI, Garrett argues that the prosecutor
committed misconduct during both phases of the trial. Except where noted,
however, defense counsel failed to object and thus forfeited all but plain error.
State v. Wade, 53 Ohio St.2d 182, 373 N.E.2d 1244 (1978), paragraph one of the
syllabus.
{¶ 144} The test for prosecutorial misconduct is whether the remarks were
improper and, if so, whether they prejudicially affected the accused’s substantial
rights. State v. Smith, 14 Ohio St.3d 13, 14, 470 N.E.2d 883 (1984). The
touchstone of the analysis “is the fairness of the trial, not the culpability of the
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January Term, 2022
prosecutor.” Smith v. Phillips, 455 U.S. 209, 219, 102 S.Ct. 940, 71 L.Ed.2d 78(1982).
1. Voir dire
{¶ 145} Garrett argues that during voir dire, the prosecutor misstated the
state’s burden of proof regarding the aggravating circumstances outweighing the
mitigating factors. The prosecutor told the jurors that (1) “just a tip of the scales
was enough,” (2) “one scale is tipped the other way,” and (3) “[i]t doesn’t have to
be by a lot[; it’s] just that they simply outweigh the mitigating factors.”
{¶ 146} The prosecutor’s shorthand references to the weighing process
were imprecise. The correct test is whether the aggravating circumstances
outweigh the mitigating factors beyond a reasonable doubt. See R.C.
2929.03(D)(1) and (2). Regardless, no plain error occurred. Any misstatements
were cured by the trial court’s instructions prior to the mitigation-phase
deliberations. See Ford, 158 Ohio St.3d 139, 2019-Ohio-4539, 140 N.E.3d 616,
at ¶ 128.
2. Trial-phase opening statement
{¶ 147} Garrett contends that the prosecutor’s opening statement inflamed
the jury by referring to the murder weapon as a “Rambo knife.” In support of his
argument, Garrett cites State v. Thomas, 152 Ohio St.3d 15, 2017-Ohio-8011, 92
N.E.3d 821. In Thomas, the victim died from a stab wound to the neck. Without
objection, the state introduced five knives that were seized from the defendant’s
residence but were unrelated to the murder. The prosecutor described them to the
jury as “ ‘full Rambo combat knives.’ ” Id. at ¶ 48. We held that the admission
of the knives violated Evid.R. 404(B) and amounted to plain error because the
state knew that the knives were not used in the murder. Id. at ¶ 45, 49. But,
unlike in Thomas, in this case the prosecutor was referring to the knife used in the
murders. Thus, Thomas is inapposite.
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{¶ 148} “During opening statements, counsel is accorded latitude and
allowed fair comment on the facts to be presented at trial.” State v. Leonard, 104
Ohio St.3d 54, 2004-Ohio-6235, 818 N.E.2d 229, ¶ 157. Here, the prosecutor’s
characterization represented “fair comment” because the murder weapon was a
12-inch hunting knife. Thus, no plain error occurred.
{¶ 149} Second, Garrett argues that the prosecutor improperly
characterized the murders as “butchering” and asked the jurors: “Who would have
done this savage, brutal, vicious crime against a four-year-old and her mother?”
Garrett also argues that the prosecutor improperly described C.D. as a “little
baby.” Given the evidence that Garrett inflicted numerous wounds on Nicole and
C.D. with a 12-inch hunting knife, the prosecutor’s statement that the victims
were butchered represented fair comment. See State v. Gunn, 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 16617, 1998 WL 453845, *16 (describing the defendant as a
“butcher” was “fair argument” given that the victim had 50 knife wounds and was
shot four times). The prosecutor’s descriptive question about this “savage, brutal,
[and] vicious crime” was also a fair comment. The prosecutor’s reference to C.D.
as a “little baby” was imprecise, but the jurors had been told that she was four
years old. Thus, no plain error occurred.
{¶ 150} Third, Garrett argues that the prosecutor improperly offered
opinions and speculated about Garrett’s sanity during opening statements. Over
defense counsel’s objection, the prosecutor stated:
Dr. Reardon is going to tell you [Garrett] was legally insane and
didn’t know what he was doing was wrong.
But when he says to Detective Porter the reason I did it was
[C.D.] saw me kill mom and I needed to kill her. Disposing of a
witness is certainly something that you know what you’re doing
and you know it’s wrong. He fled the scene. He had to kill her
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January Term, 2022
because she was a witness. He also told Dr. Reardon he did it
because he refused to let someone else raise his child, which again
tells me that, you know, he knew what he did was wrong. He was
killing her for a purpose, at least if you believe Dr. Reardon.
***
The evidence that Dr. Reardon, you know, ignores
establishes he knew what he did was wrong. He didn’t answer his
phone that whole day. I guess his phone was being burnt up by the
police and relatives and friends as it became known that this little
girl and her mom had been murdered.
The trial court instructed the prosecutor not to use the first person—i.e., “I
believe” or “I think.” Otherwise, the trial court overruled defense counsel’s
objection, stating that the prosecutor has some “leeway” to comment on what the
evidence will show and the strength of the defense case.
{¶ 151} A prosecutor may not express his or her personal opinion as to the
guilt of the accused. A prosecutor may, however, express a conclusion of guilt
based on what the state believes that the evidence will show. See State v. Gibson,
4th Dist. Highland No. 03CA1, 2003-Ohio-4910, ¶ 39-40. Here, the prosecutor
addressed Dr. Reardon’s expected testimony about Garrett’s sanity, stating that
Dr. Reardon’s conclusion ignored evidence showing that Garrett purposely killed
both victims. Such comments were proper.
{¶ 152} Fourth, Garrett argues that the prosecutor made disparaging
comments by stating: “This knife was taken by him out of his car, his Cadillac
STS, I might add. He’s not paying child support, but he’s driving a Cadillac.”
The prosecutor’s statement pointed out that Garrett’s lifestyle (driving a Cadillac)
belied his statement to the police about his “substandard” mode of living and his
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inability to pay child support. These comments were not made to inflame the
jury. The prosecutor’s argument was fair comment, and no plain error occurred.
3. Trial-phase testimony
{¶ 153} Garrett argues that the prosecutor improperly elicited the
following testimony from the police officer who seized his clothing:
Q: Okay. Now, the—the items that I’ve shown you, do
those appear to be in clean condition? Do they appear to be nice
clothing items, nice hats, wallet, that type stuff?
A: Yes, ma’am.
{¶ 154} Garrett also argues that the prosecutor improperly introduced
photographs of Garrett’s workout equipment that was in his apartment.
{¶ 155} Evid.R. 401 defines “relevant evidence” as “evidence having any
tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the
determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be
without the evidence.” “The admission or exclusion of relevant evidence rests
within the sound discretion of the trial court.” State v. Sage, 31 Ohio St.3d 173,
510 N.E.2d 343 (1987), paragraph two of the syllabus.
{¶ 156} As discussed above, evidence about Garrett’s lifestyle was
relevant in refuting Garrett’s claim about his “substandard” mode of living and his
inability to pay child support. Thus, the prosecutor properly elicited testimony
about Garrett’s nice clothing that had been seized when he was arrested and his
workout equipment that he had in his apartment. No plain error occurred.
4. Trial-phase closing arguments
{¶ 157} Garrett also alleges that the prosecutor committed misconduct
during trial-phase closing arguments.
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{¶ 158} First, Garrett contends that the prosecutor improperly submitted
the following argument to the jury: “I would submit to you that when Nicole was
getting stabbed, she didn’t think that her daughter was in any danger because she
was the one with issues with him, not her daughter.” The prosecutor erred when
he invited the jury to consider what Nicole was thinking in the last moments of
her life, because such argument “invites the jury to speculate on facts not in
evidence.” State v. Wogenstahl, 75 Ohio St.3d 344, 357, 662 N.E.2d 311 (1996).
However, the prosecutor’s comments were mitigated by the trial court’s
instruction that closing arguments were not evidence. See State v. Kirkland, 160
Ohio St.3d 389, 2020-Ohio-4079, 157 N.E.3d 716, ¶ 117. Thus, no plain error
occurred.
{¶ 159} Garrett also contends that the prosecutor improperly argued that
“[Garrett] said that [C.D.] ran, she was screaming and he had to chase her down.
Ask yourselves why she was screaming? Because her daddy that she hadn’t seen
for months was there and instead of greeting her with a hug and a kiss, he’s
stabbing her mommy and then he’s coming for her.” Here, the prosecutor’s
explanation for C.D.’s screaming was based on reasons gleaned from the evidence
and was not improper.
{¶ 160} Second, Garrett argues that the prosecutor improperly made the
following “graphically laden argument”: “There’s a lot of blood on that snow.
That’s where the attack on Nicole took place.” The prosecutor later asked the
jury: “And as he’s stabbing, slicing, cutting both of these victims, what is his
purpose?” These arguments include factual statements describing the murders
and their aftermath and were supported by the evidence. No plain error occurred.
{¶ 161} Third, Garrett argues that the prosecutor denigrated him by
arguing:
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And then he says something strange. He wants them to
post it on Facebook. He wants them to write his story so that they
will— They’ll all understand and people won’t look at [him] as a
maniac. Literally that sounds a lot like the schizoid personality
disorder, someone who cares about what people think of them.
You be the judge of that.
{¶ 162} Dr. Reardon diagnosed Garrett with a schizoid personality
disorder and explained that a person with that disorder, like Garrett, copes with
life by staying “separate from people * * * liv[ing] * * * life with people but apart
from people.” While the prosecutor may have misspoken by saying that Garrett’s
desire to have his friends post his story on Facebook “[l]iterally * * * sounds a lot
like the schizoid personality disorder,” the prosecutor later stated in the penalty-
phase, “[W]e don’t have a recluse. We don’t have someone who is a social
hermit.” Indeed, the prosecutor was clearly questioning Garrett’s schizoid-
personality-disorder diagnosis. The prosecutor attempted to call Garrett’s
diagnosis into question because Garrett’s concern about what other people think
of him seems to run counter to someone diagnosed with a schizoid personality
disorder. These comments were grounded in the evidence, and no plain error
occurred.
{¶ 163} Fourth, Garrett contends that the prosecutor improperly
undermined Dr. Reardon’s report by saying, “a mere two weeks later, no more
tests, no more meetings, no more interviews with this man, he flip-flops, a 180,
and says I got to prepare for you a not guilty by reason of insanity plea.” The
prosecutor’s argument that Dr. Reardon “flip-flops” in changing his opinion about
Garrett’s sanity merely highlighted what the evidence seemed to indicate. This
was proper. See State v. Franklin, 97 Ohio St.3d 1, 2002-Ohio-5304, 776 N.E.2d
26, ¶ 28.
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{¶ 164} Fifth, Garrett argues that the prosecutor’s argument that the police
found “some condoms under the bed” was irrelevant and prejudicial. The state
asserts that the condoms showed that Garrett had girlfriends, which undermined
Dr. Reardon’s testimony that Garrett had a schizoid personality disorder because
to be interested in having a sexual relationship would be unusual for people with
schizoid personality disorder. Although the statement about finding condoms
under Garrett’s bed was of questionable relevance, no plain error occurred.
{¶ 165} Sixth, Garrett asserts that the prosecutor improperly introduced
evidence that the police found a knife at his apartment that was unrelated to the
charged crimes. But the prosecutor’s comments were relevant in refuting
Garrett’s initial police statement that he had injured his hand with a steak knife
while opening a package. This claim is also rejected.
5. Mitigation-phase opening statement
{¶ 166} Garrett argues that the prosecutor misspoke during the mitigation-
phase opening statements. First, Garrett argues that the prosecutor diminished the
burden of proof as to mitigation by stating to the jury: “The state submits the
evidence you will hear today will not be of any weight or credibility that you
should give to outweigh that strong two or more specifications.” He also argues
that the prosecutor improperly stated: “[W]hat you hear today will not diminish
the appropriateness of the death sentence in this case.”
{¶ 167} But “[p]rosecutors can urge the merits of their cause and
legitimately argue that defense mitigation evidence is worthy of little or no
weight.” State v. Wilson, 74 Ohio St.3d 381, 399, 659 N.E.2d 292 (1996). And,
in any event, the trial court fully instructed the jury on the burden of proof and the
weighing of the mitigating factors. No plain error occurred.
{¶ 168} Next, Garrett claims that the prosecutor improperly insinuated that
Dr. Reardon’s diagnosis must bear a relationship to Garrett’s crimes by arguing
that “a diagnosis in 2007 of a reattachment [sic] disorder, certainly on January 5
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of 2018 does not diminish the appropriateness of the death sentence for his
conduct.” Here, the prosecutor was discussing the R.C. 2929.04(B)(3) mitigating
factor, which states: “Whether at the time of committing the offense, the offender,
because of a mental disease or defect, lacked substantial capacity to appreciate the
criminality of the offender’s conduct or to conform the offender’s conduct to the
requirements of the law.” (Emphasis added.) The prosecutor’s remarks
represented fair comment.
6. Mitigation-phase closing arguments
{¶ 169} Garrett also contends that the prosecutor committed three
instances of misconduct during the mitigation-phase closing arguments.
{¶ 170} First, Garrett challenges the following rebuttal argument by the
prosecutor: “What’s mitigating about butchering the mother of his child 49 times
with that footlong Rambo knife?” However, the trial court sustained defense
counsel’s objection to this argument and instructed the jury to consider the
“nature and circumstances of the offenses” only when they had mitigating value.
Thus, no prejudicial error occurred. See Drummond, 111 Ohio St.3d 14, 2006-
Ohio-5084, 854 N.E.2d 1038, at ¶ 130.
{¶ 171} Second, Garrett argues that the prosecutor improperly stated that
“it’s the State’s burden to prove that the aggravating circumstances outweigh
those mitigating factors, could be by a lot (demonstrating), could be by a little
(demonstrating), it doesn’t matter. It’s just that it outweighs.” The prosecutor’s
inexact comments did not result in plain error. The trial court’s final instruction
correctly informed the jury about the weighing process, including the burden of
proof, and cured any misstatements. See State v. LaMar, 95 Ohio St.3d 181,
2002-Ohio-2128, 767 N.E.2d 166, ¶ 92.
{¶ 172} Third, Garrett argues that the prosecutor improperly stated that
Garrett’s reactive-attachment-disorder diagnosis was made in 2007 and that there
was no evidence that the diagnosis affected his actions on January 5, 2018.
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However, the prosecutor could argue that defense mitigation was entitled to little
weight. Thus, no plain error occurred.
7. Cumulative prejudice
{¶ 173} Finally, Garrett argues that the cumulative effect of the
prosecutor’s misconduct denied him a fair trial. But when the evidence is viewed
in context of the entire trial, it does not show that the prosecutor’s conduct
prejudicially affected Garrett’s substantial rights. See State v. McKelton, 148
Ohio St.3d 261, 2016-Ohio-5735, 70 N.E.3d 508, ¶ 291.
{¶ 174} Based on the foregoing, we reject proposition of law No. XI.
G. Trial-phase ineffective assistance of counsel
{¶ 175} In proposition of law No. XII, Garrett raises various claims that
his counsel provided ineffective assistance during the trial phase.
{¶ 176} Reversal of a conviction for ineffective assistance of counsel
requires that the defendant show, first, that counsel’s performance was deficient
and second, that the deficient performance prejudiced the defendant so as to
deprive the defendant of a fair trial. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687,
104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984); accord State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d
136, 538 N.E.2d 373 (1989), paragraph two of the syllabus.
1. Failure to challenge seated juror No. 31
{¶ 177} Garrett argues that his counsel were ineffective by failing to
challenge seated juror No. 31 for cause because of that juror’s dyslexia. Seated
juror No. 31 explained that he had required assistance to complete his
questionnaire by having someone read it to him and write down his answers.
Seated juror No. 31 also stated that he had difficulty understanding large words
and that retaining legalese would be problematic for him.
{¶ 178} The trial court seated juror No. 31 and then discussed possible
accommodations:
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THE COURT: Do you think if you were selected for this
jury and there was another jury member back there who was
willing to or able to go over it with you or to talk about, you know,
some of [the] definitions with you, would—I mean, would that be
helpful?
[SEATED] JUROR NO. 31: Oh, yes. It obviously would
be helpful.
THE COURT: You’re clearly a very smart man. Your
answers today have been very thoughtful and well considerable
[sic]. So, you know, I just want to make sure—You know, we’re
going to have—At the close of the case I’m going to read you out
loud the jury instructions, but you’re going to have a paper copy as
well.
[SEATED] JUROR NO. 31: Yes.
THE COURT: If—I’m going to read it out to you and then
you’ll be back there with the other members of the jury. Do you
think that would be sufficient for you to understand the instructions
that I give you? You know, with the idea that if—You know, if
you’re having a discussion with the other members of the jury,
they can kind of talk about what—You know, what the definitions
are.
[SEATED] JUROR NO. 31: I think so, but if—You know,
if it’s a lot of instructions, I kind of describe it as, okay, some of it
soaks in, but if you give me too much information, I’ve got to get
rid of a little bit of it to retain some of the other part of it and that’s
my concern is remembering from beginning to end the instructions
that you give me to follow.
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THE COURT: You—You would have the ability to—If
you had a question, to come back out and I can reread it. Would
that be helpful maybe? You know, if you go back there and you’re
in day two of your discussions and you need me to reread
something to you, I can do that. Would that be helpful?
[SEATED] JUROR No. 31: Yes, it would.
(Capitalization sic.)
{¶ 179} The assistant prosecutor then asked seated juror No. 31 about
reviewing documentary evidence. The assistant prosecutor explained that the
parties “may submit pieces of evidence, pieces of paper that have a lot of writing”
and that, although the trial court and counsel “would go over all of that in court,”
the evidence “would also go back into the jury room.” The assistant prosecutor’s
questioning continued:
[ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR]: Would you be
comfortable dealing with written evidence?
[SEATED] JUROR NO. 31: Would that be discussed with
the other jurors?
[ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR]: Yes. Yes, it could be.
PROSPECTIVE JUROR NO. 31: That would help.
Would I retain every single thing and would I be able to look back
at the paper and say, oh, yeah? I probably wouldn’t be able to do
that. I’m going to retain what I hear by verbally hearing it being
spoken to me by the Judge or, you know, the other people in the
case and hopefully I retain most of it.
(Capitalization sic.)
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{¶ 180} Seated juror No. 31 was not questioned further about his
disability. Neither Garrett nor the state challenged seated juror No. 31 for cause
or exercised a peremptory challenge. Ultimately, he was seated on the jury.
Seated juror No. 31 did not raise any further difficulties with hearing or
considering the evidence during the trial.
{¶ 181} Garrett claims that defense counsel should have challenged seated
juror No. 31, because seated juror No. 31 admitted that he would not be able to
remember large amounts of information. Citing State v. Speer, 124 Ohio St.3d
564, 2010-Ohio-649, 925 N.E.2d 584, Garrett argues that the trial court failed to
provide any reasonable accommodation to enable seated juror No. 31 to serve.
Garrett also argues that asking other jurors to assist seated juror No. 31 with
definitions and the evidence risked seated juror No. 31’s ability to independently
consider the law and the evidence.
{¶ 182} In Speer, we held that “[a]n accommodation made to enable a
physically impaired individual to serve as a juror must afford the accused a fair
trial.” Id. at paragraph two of the syllabus. More specifically, “[t]he right to a
fair trial requires that all members of the jury have the ability to understand all the
evidence presented, to evaluate that evidence in a rational manner, to
communicate effectively with other jurors during deliberations, and to
comprehend the applicable legal principles as instructed by the court.” Id. at ¶ 25.
{¶ 183} But the facts in Speer are distinguishable. In that case, a juror
said during voir dire that the only way she could understand what someone was
saying was to see their face and read their lips. The trial court denied the
challenge for cause. To accommodate the juror’s impairment, the court placed
her in the front row of the jury box and asked counsel to turn toward her when
speaking so she could read their lips.
{¶ 184} The court of appeals reversed the conviction on the grounds that
these accommodations were insufficient to ensure the defendant received a fair
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trial, and we affirmed. The decision hinged on the fact that both the state and
defense relied on a 9-1-1 call as evidence relevant to whether the defendant
committed the charged offenses. The state argued that defendant’s “ ‘calm tone’ ”
and “ ‘demeanor on the 9-1-1 tape’ ” provided evidence of his guilt. Id., 124
Ohio St.3d 564, 2010-Ohio-649, 925 N.E.2d 584, at ¶ 27. Even seated in the
front row of the jury box, the juror was unable to perceive the tone and inflection
of the 9-1-1 tape.
{¶ 185} Unlike in Speer, Garrett points to nothing that prevented seated
juror No. 31 from fairly considering the evidence that was presented at trial.
Seated juror No. 31 assured the court that discussing legal definitions and
reviewing evidence with other jurors and requesting the court to repeat
instructions when necessary were accommodations that would allow him to
perceive and evaluate the evidence. Garrett’s complaint that seated juror No. 31
was unable to independently consider the law and evidence due to his reliance on
other jurors to interpret and remember information for him is speculative. See
State v. Jackson, 4th Dist. Athens No. 18CA7, 2020-Ohio-7034, ¶ 27-28 (record
showed that juror was able to understand all testimony, evidence, argument, and
instructions with functioning hearing aids).
{¶ 186} In addition, defense counsel arguably had legitimate tactical
reasons for not challenging seated juror No. 31. During voir dire, seated juror
No. 31 indicated that Garrett’s lack of a prior criminal record and mental-health
history would be important mitigating factors. And on his questionnaire, seated
juror No. 31 indicated that he understood the importance of expert testimony.
Thus, Garrett fails to establish that defense counsel were deficient by failing to
challenge seated juror No. 31.
2. Conceding the horrible nature of the crimes
{¶ 187} Although Garrett concedes that counsel’s strategy to acknowledge
his guilt made sense, he argues that defense counsel were ineffective by telling
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prospective jurors during general voir dire that “this is a horrible, horrible case”
and that it “might be one of the hardest cases in Franklin County history just how
horrible this is.” Garrett also argues that counsel were ineffective during opening
statements by stating, “We agree * * * that these were horrific, disgusting, almost
unimaginable crimes that were committed by Kristofer Garrett.”
{¶ 188} Defense counsel’s statements do not reflect deficient
performance. The defense can legitimately choose a strategy that is aimed at
building a rapport with the jury. Ford, 158 Ohio St.3d 139, 2019-Ohio-4539, 140
N.E.3d 616, at ¶ 412. Counsel’s candid acknowledgment that Garrett committed
“horrific, disgusting, and almost unimaginable” crimes could have helped build
such rapport. See Frazier, 115 Ohio St.3d 139, 2007-Ohio-5048, 873 N.E.2d
1263, at ¶ 225. Thus, this ineffectiveness claim is rejected.
3. Failure to object to police opinions
{¶ 189} Garrett argues that his counsel were ineffective by failing to
object to Detective Daniel Douglas’s testimony that Garrett could have cut his
own hand because “when you’re in the act of this altercation,” the bloody handle
of the knife will get slippery, causing the hand to “slide over and onto the blade.”
Garrett also complains that counsel failed to object when Detective Porter
testified that “in a repeated stabbing the suspect’s hand will slide up and down
* * * and on a knife they may cut themselves in the motion of stabbing.”
{¶ 190} Evid.R. 701 applies to opinion testimony from lay witnesses. It
states:
If the witness is not testifying as an expert, the witness’
testimony in the form of opinions or inferences is limited to those
opinions or inferences which are (1) rationally based on the
perception of the witness and (2) helpful to a clear understanding
of the witness’ testimony or the determination of a fact in issue.
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{¶ 191} Testimony about the knife wounds meets the requirements of
Evid.R. 701 because it was based on Detective Douglas’s and Detective Porter’s
perceptions and clarified the cause of Garrett’s injuries. Garrett argues that
neither witness had the amount of experience necessary to offer opinions about
wounds caused by a slippery knife. But Detective Douglas’s opinion was based
on his experience in processing crime scenes, and Detective Porter’s opinion was
based on his experience as a homicide detective. Thus, both officers were
qualified to provide lay testimony under Evid.R. 701. See State v. Coit, 10th Dist.
Franklin No. 02AP-475, 2002-Ohio-7356, ¶ 40 (experience as a police officer and
familiarity with blunt-force trauma and past observation of wounds permitted
detective’s testimony that cuts on victim’s leg were consistent with being hit by a
brick).
{¶ 192} Defense counsel also were not ineffective by failing to object to
Detective Douglas’s and Detective Porter’s experience because forgoing an
objection avoided bolstering the detectives’ credentials in front of the jury.
{¶ 193} Next, Garrett complains that defense counsel were ineffective
because Detective Porter’s testimony about the slippery knife warranted an
objection as cumulative evidence. Even assuming that Porter’s testimony was
cumulative, Garrett cannot demonstrate prejudice because of the overwhelming
evidence of his guilt. See Drummond, 111 Ohio St.3d 14, 2006-Ohio-5084, 854
N.E.2d 1038, at ¶ 222.
{¶ 194} Finally, Garrett argues that defense counsel were ineffective by
failing to object to Detective Porter’s testimony that the person who had killed
Nicole and C.D. was “very angry” at them. But Detective Porter’s opinion about
the killer’s anger was relevant because it indicated that the murders were likely a
crime of passion rather than a random act of violence or a robbery gone wrong.
Furthermore, the state presented evidence that Garrett was angry at Nicole, so it
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was relevant that the crime scene indicated the assailant was angry during the
murders. Therefore, any objection by defense counsel was unlikely to be
sustained. Moreover, given the overwhelming evidence of Garrett’s guilt,
Detective Porter’s brief comment was not prejudicial. This ineffectiveness claim
also lacks merit.
4. Failure to object to time limits for closing arguments
{¶ 195} Garrett argues that his counsel were ineffective by failing to
object to the trial court’s time limitation of 30 minutes for each side for the trial
phase’s closing arguments.
{¶ 196} Before the start of closing arguments, the trial court asked each
side to limit arguments to 30 minutes and 10 or 15 minutes for rebuttal. When
asked whether that would be enough time, defense counsel answered: “Plenty.
There’s only one issue.” And cocounsel added: “He’s the boss on that one, but
that sounds like plenty to me.” Toward the end of defense counsel’s argument,
the trial court advised counsel that he had only five minutes remaining. Defense
counsel responded: “I’m sorry, thank you. I’ll wrap it up. I’m getting there.”
Shortly thereafter, defense counsel stated: “I’m going to wrap this up a little
quicker.”
{¶ 197} The time permitted for closing arguments is within the trial
court’s sound discretion. State v. Ferrette, 18 Ohio St.3d 106, 110, 480 N.E.2d
399 (1985); see also State v. Jenkins, 15 Ohio St.3d 164, 221, 473 N.E.2d 264(1984). The exercise of such discretion “ ‘will not be interfered with by an
appellate tribunal in the absence of a clear showing of its abuse to the prejudice of
the substantial rights of the complaining party.’ ” Braeunig v. Russell, 170 Ohio
St. 444, 446, 166 N.E.2d 240 (1960), quoting 53 American Jurisprudence, Section
461, at 364-365 (1945).
{¶ 198} Garrett contends that defense counsel should have objected to the
30-minute time limit because of this being an aggravated-murder case with
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multiple witnesses and hundreds of pages of exhibits. However, defense counsel
said that 30 minutes was “plenty” of time. Garrett also argues that counsel should
have objected when the trial court informed counsel that he had five minutes to
wrap up his argument. But Garrett fails to specify any additional points that
counsel failed to make because he may have been hurried in completing his
argument. Under these circumstances, Garrett fails to show that counsel’s failure
to object was deficient or prejudicial.
5. Other ineffective-assistance allegations
{¶ 199} Garrett raises other instances of trial-phase ineffectiveness of
counsel. But as discussed in other propositions of law, even if counsel were
deficient, Garrett has failed to establish that he was prejudiced by:
● Counsel’s failure to object to the trial court’s closure of the courtroom to
minors;
● Counsel’s failure to object to the prosecutor’s statements about weighing
the aggravating circumstances and mitigating factors during voir dire;
● Counsel’s failure to object to cumulative, gruesome photos of Nicole and
C.D.; and
● Counsel’s failure to object to the prosecutor’s characterization of Garrett’s
clothing and other personal items.
6. Cumulative error
{¶ 200} Finally, Garrett argues that defense counsel’s cumulative errors
and omissions violated his constitutional rights. However, because none of
Garrett’s claims of ineffective assistance have merit, he cannot establish a right to
relief by simply joining these claims together. See Mammone, 139 Ohio St.3d
467, 2014-Ohio-1942, 13 N.E.3d 1051, at ¶ 173.
{¶ 201} Based on the foregoing, we reject proposition of law No. XII.
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H. Readmission of trial-phase evidence
{¶ 202} In proposition of law No. X, Garrett argues that the trial court’s
readmission of all the trial-phase evidence during mitigation violated his rights to
due process and a fair trial. However, defense counsel did not object to the
readmission of this evidence and forfeited all but plain error. See Ford, 158 Ohio
St.3d 139, 2019-Ohio-4539, 140 N.E.3d 616, at ¶ 357.
{¶ 203} As an initial matter, the state invokes the invited-error doctrine.
The doctrine of invited error specifies that a litigant may not “take advantage of
an error which he himself invited or induced.” Hal Artz Lincoln–Mercury, Inc. v.
Ford Motor Co., Lincoln–Mercury Div., 28 Ohio St.3d 20, 502 N.E.2d 590(1986), paragraph one of the syllabus. “This court has found invited error when a
party has asked the court to take some action later claimed to be erroneous, or
affirmatively consented to a procedure the trial judge proposed.” State v.
Campbell, 90 Ohio St.3d 320, 324, 738 N.E.2d 1178 (2000). Here, the invited-
error doctrine does not apply because defense counsel’s failure to object did not
invite error.
{¶ 204} R.C. 2929.03(D)(1) provides that at the penalty stage of a capital
proceeding, the jury shall consider, among other things, “any evidence raised at
trial that is relevant to the aggravating circumstances the offender was found
guilty of committing * * * [and] hear testimony and other evidence that is relevant
to the nature and circumstances of the aggravating circumstances the offender was
found guilty of committing.”
{¶ 205} Garrett argues that the state could reintroduce only the minimal
evidence relevant to proving the aggravating circumstances. However, R.C.
2929.03(D)(1) does not limit the quantity of evidence relevant to the aggravating
circumstances that the state may reintroduce during mitigation. See State v.
DePew, 38 Ohio St.3d 275, 282-283, 528 N.E.2d 542 (1988). Thus, this claim
lacks merit.
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{¶ 206} Next, citing Belton, 149 Ohio St.3d 165, 2016-Ohio-1581, 74
N.E.3d 319, at ¶ 92, Garrett argues that the evidence related to the nature and
circumstances of an offense may be readmitted only if the defense offers the
evidence as mitigation, which the defense did not do here. Belton held that R.C.
2929.04(B) and (C) prohibit reference to “the nature and circumstances of the
offense as a factor to be considered in mitigation unless and until offered by
defendant.” (Emphasis sic.) Id. But reference to the nature and circumstances of
the offense is different from the introduction of evidence related to the
aggravating circumstances. Belton makes no holding regarding the introduction
of evidence related to the aggravating circumstances in the mitigation phase. And
to the extent that the prosecutor inappropriately referred to the nature and
circumstances of the offenses in this case, this error did not prejudice Garrett,
because the trial court sustained the defense’s objection to the prosecutor’s
remarks and then instructed the jury to only consider the nature and circumstances
of the offense if they have mitigating value.
{¶ 207} Garrett also argues that the overbroad readmission of the evidence
was not relevant to the aggravating circumstances because the crime-scene and
autopsy photographs of Nicole and C.D. and most of the testimonial evidence had
nothing to do with the aggravating circumstances. As discussed in proposition of
law No. IV, some of the crime-scene photographs were repetitive and should not
have been admitted during trial nor readmitted during mitigation. Yet Garrett was
not prejudiced by the admission of those photographs. And the remainder of the
crime-scene and autopsy photographs were relevant to the course-of-conduct
aggravating circumstance. See Ford, 158 Ohio St.3d 139, 2019-Ohio-4539, 140
N.E.3d 616, at ¶ 355. The testimonial evidence also bore some relevance to the
nature and circumstances of the course-of-conduct, murder-of-a-child-under-13,
and escaping-detection aggravating circumstances. See State v. Lang, 129 Ohio
St.3d 512, 2011-Ohio-4215, 954 N.E.2d 596, ¶ 241.
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{¶ 208} Finally, the trial court instructed the jury to consider only the trial-
phase testimony and other readmitted evidence related to the aggravating
circumstances and the mitigating factors. See Ford at ¶ 358. Thus, no plain error
occurred.
{¶ 209} Based on the foregoing, we reject proposition of law No. X.
I. Jury-instruction claims
{¶ 210} In propositions of law Nos. I, II, and XIV, Garrett argues that the
trial court erred by giving one jury instruction and failing to give two others. We
reject these three propositions of law for the reasons explained below. But, in any
event, our independent sentence reassessment would be sufficient to cure the
errors alleged. See State v. Twyford, 94 Ohio St.3d 340, 352, 763 N.E.2d 122(2002); State v. Lundgren, 73 Ohio St.3d 474, 493, 653 N.E.2d 304 (1995).
1. Instructions on R.C. 2929.04(B)(3) mitigating factor
{¶ 211} In proposition of law No. I, Garrett argues that the trial court erred
by instructing the jury on the mental-disease-or-defect mitigating factor, R.C.
2929.04(B)(3), after defense counsel requested the trial court not to instruct on
that mitigating factor. R.C. 2929.04(B)(3) allows a jury to consider and weigh
against the aggravating circumstances “[w]hether, at the time of committing the
offense, the offender, because of a mental disease or defect, lacked substantial
capacity to appreciate the criminality of the offender’s conduct or to conform the
offender’s conduct to the requirements of the law.”
a. Relevant facts
{¶ 212} Before the mitigation phase began, the defense reintroduced Dr.
Reardon’s final report. The prosecutor’s mitigation-phase opening statement
stated that the mitigating factors included Garrett’s claim that he “lack[ed]
substantial capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct.”
{¶ 213} During the discussion about mitigation-phase instructions, the
prosecutor argued that the evidence required the court to instruct the jury as to
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R.C. 2929.04(B)(3). Defense counsel responded that an instruction on R.C.
2929.04 was not being requested because the jury’s verdict “looks like they may
not have considered much psychological evidence at all and [the R.C.
2929.04(B)(3) mitigating factor] is so closely tailored to almost being NGRI.”
Defense counsel added that “I think it will confuse the jury if we go forward
trying to argue that as a mitigating factor.” The following colloquy ensued:
THE COURT: Is it going to be referenced, though, in
closing arguments, I guess? Because they’ve already—The
testimony of Dr. Reardon has been admitted for this hearing and—
And the reports have been admitted.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Sure. We—We can still argue it.
We’re just asking the Court not to instruct them on a specific
mitigating factor in the statute.
THE COURT: Okay. Well—
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: We can argue it as part of the
catchall if we want to, I imagine, but—
THE COURT: I’m going—I’m going to leave it in there—
(Capitalization sic.)
{¶ 214} The prosecutor discredited the R.C. 2929.04(B)(3) mitigating
factor during the mitigation-phase closing argument:
[T]he Judge will instruct you that a mitigating factor could be
whether at the time the offense was committed the Defendant,
because of a mental disease or defect—This is different than not
guilty by reason of insanity that because of that mental disease or
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defect he lacked the substantial capacity to know the wrongfulness
of his actions.
***
And Dr. Reardon told you about the hallmarks of schizoid
personality disorder. He told * * * you someone with that disorder
neither enjoys nor desires close relationships, including being part
of a family. Now, think about the testimony that you heard today,
the testimony of his grandma, the woman who he went over and he
mowed her grass, he shoveled her snow. He would come over and
take care of her. The testimony of Adrienne Hood, not even his
family, not even his blood family, go to cookouts, come over to the
house all the time. The testimony of Samantha Loveless,
cookouts, birthday parties, Christmas, Thanksgiving. That’s being
part of a family, seeking out those close relationships.
***
Dr. Reardon also talked to you about reactive attachment
disorder and that that diagnosis was made in 2007. There’s been
no evidence that in 2018 that there had been the most recent
diagnosis or how, if at all, that that diagnosis impacted how he
reacted, how he acted on January 5, 2018.
{¶ 215} Defense counsel countered this argument, stating:
These factors that the State wants to bring up again today,
I’m— I’m confused as to where its relevance is when we’re not
talking about the state of mind at the time of the offense. We’re
past that. That’s not what we’re here for.
***
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Nonetheless, those were arguments we were making
because of Dr. Reardon’s findings regarding [Garrett]. If we get—
We get a report back from a doctor that says NGRI, what are we
supposed to do? Wad that up and throw it in a trash can? No we
have to go forward with that.
And, again, you’ve reached your decision on that. I just
am, quite frankly, fearful that you will take that—That testimony
regarding the mental illnesses suffered by our client—Diagnosed
regarding our client, that you will just crumple those up and throw
them away when you go back in that deliberation room.
Defense counsel asked the jurors to consider Garrett’s mental illnesses under the
“catchall” provision in R.C. 2929.04(B)(7), stating: “The instruction is you can
take anything from the trial phase and use it in your determination.”
{¶ 216} The final instructions on the mitigating factors included R.C.
2929.04(B)(3). The trial court added, “The Defense introduced evidence of
multiple factors that they believe are mitigating in this case. You must consider
each factor and give it what weight you deem appropriate.”
{¶ 217} Following defense counsel’s objection to the trial court’s
instruction as to R.C. 2929.04(B)(3), the trial court stated: “I just think there was
too much evidence and focus on that information to not instruct the jury on that as
a mitigating factor would—Would cause confusion, but I will note—I just think
that bell can’t be unrung and that’s why I thought it was important to give them
the instruction * * *.”
b. Analysis
{¶ 218} As an initial matter, the state argues that Garrett failed to preserve
the issue pertaining to the trial court’s decision to instruct the jury as to R.C.
2929.04(B)(3) by stating, “Well, that’s up to the Court. We’re just not requesting
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it.” Crim.R. 30(A) provides: “On appeal, a party may not assign as error the
giving or the failure to give any instructions unless the party objects before the
jury retires to consider its verdict, stating specifically the matter objected to and
the grounds for the objection.” But defense counsel clarified the objection,
adding, “We’re just asking the Court not to instruct [the jury] on a specific
mitigating factor in the statute.” And following jury instructions on R.C.
2929.04(B)(3), defense counsel stated, “We did not ask for that. We want the
record to be clear on that.” In overruling the objection, the trial court stated, “I
will note your objection to that for the record.” Thus, Garrett preserved this issue
for review.
{¶ 219} Citing DePew, 38 Ohio St.3d at 289, 528 N.E.2d 542, Garrett
argues that because defense counsel did not present evidence on R.C.
2929.04(B)(3) as a mitigating factor, the trial court was prohibited from
instructing the jury on it.
{¶ 220} In DePew, defense counsel objected to references to mitigating
factors not raised by the defense, arguing that they focused the jury’s attention on
the number of mitigating factors absent from the defendant’s case. Id. We stated:
R.C. 2929.04(B) and (C) deal with mitigation and were
designed to enable the defendant to raise issues in mitigation and
to facilitate his presentation thereof. If the defendant chooses to
refrain from raising some of or all of the factors available to him,
those factors not raised may not be referred to or commented upon
by the trial court or the prosecution. When the purpose of these
sections is understood, it is clear that such comment is appropriate
only with regard to those factors actually offered in mitigation by
the defendant.
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* * * Thus, it is the defendant who has the right to present
and argue the mitigating factors. If he does not do so, no comment
on any factors not raised by him is permissible.
(Emphasis sic.) DePew at 289; see also Belton, 149 Ohio St.3d 165, 2016-Ohio-
1581, 74 N.E.3d 319, at ¶ 92 (DePew prohibited prosecutor from commenting on
the nature and circumstances as a mitigating factor to consider when defense did
not offer them as mitigating evidence).
{¶ 221} Garrett argues that counsel chose not to raise the R.C.
2929.04(B)(3) factor during mitigation because the jury had already rejected
Garrett’s NGRI defense and presenting a mental disease or defect defense again
would be extremely prejudicial. Garrett asserts that counsel’s defense strategy
was to present a mix of family and friends and his football coach to testify about
his chaotic childhood. He also argues that the trial court’s instruction on the R.C.
2929.04(B)(3) mitigating factor was unnecessary, because the “catchall”
mitigating factor, R.C. 2929.04(B)(7), allowed the jury to consider his mental
health as a mitigating factor.
{¶ 222} The state argues that Garrett raised R.C. 2929.04(B)(3) during
mitigation by resubmitting Dr. Reardon’s NGRI report, because the NGRI
standard subsumes the standard under R.C. 2929.04. Insanity requires an absolute
inability to appreciate the criminality of one’s conduct, whereas the mitigating
factor of diminished capacity requires only the lack of substantial capacity to
appreciate the criminality of the offender’s conduct or to conform the offender’s
conduct to the requirements of the law. See State v. Dickerson, 45 Ohio St.3d
206, 210, 543 N.E.2d 1250 (1989). Thus, while Garrett’s sanity was no longer at
issue, Dr. Reardon’s report was relevant to establishing the mitigating factor
under R.C. 2929.04(B)(3). See State v. Cooey, 46 Ohio St.3d 20, 33, 544 N.E.2d
895 (1989) (psychological report on sanity was deemed relevant to the R.C.
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2929.04(B)(3) mitigating factor). DePew did not prohibit the trial court from
instructing the jury as to R.C. 2929.04(B)(3), because Garrett raised R.C.
2929.04(B)(3) as a mitigating factor by resubmitting Dr. Reardon’s report.
{¶ 223} Despite factual distinctions, our opinion in State v. Garner, 74
Ohio St.3d 49, 656 N.E.2d 623 (1995), is instructive. In Garner, defense counsel
asked that the trial court include an instruction regarding R.C. 2929.04(B)(3).
After psychologists testified, the defense withdrew its request for the instruction,
stating that they were “ ‘not going to assert that particular mitigating
circumstance.’ ” Id. at 55. Garner held that the trial court did not err in including
the factor in its instructions:
We will not sanction a procedure whereby the defense may
effectively control the court’s charge by representing that it is
abandoning a particular mitigating factor based on an evaluation
that the testimony of its mitigation witness was unfavorable.
Id. at 56. A similar rationale supports denying Garrett’s claim that the trial court
erred by including the instruction regarding R.C. 2929.04(B)(3).
{¶ 224} Garrett contends that the prosecutor’s request for an instruction on
R.C. 2929.04(B)(3) along with the prosecutor’s mitigation-phase closing
argument, which discredited Garrett’s presentation of any evidence of the
mitigating factor in R.C. 2929.04(B)(3), was unfair and offensive to due process.
However, “once lawfully inserted into the sentencing considerations, such
information is subject to fair comment by both parties.” State v. Greer, 39 Ohio
St.3d 236, 253, 530 N.E.2d 382 (1988).
{¶ 225} Garrett also argues that Dr. Reardon’s earlier reports should not
have been admitted because they were incomplete and undermined Dr. Reardon’s
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credibility. But those reports were relevant and necessary for a full understanding
of Dr. Reardon’s final report. Thus, this argument lacks merit.
{¶ 226} Finally, Garrett argues that the trial court’s instruction on R.C.
2929.04(B)(3) “completely torpedoed the defense mitigation” and required
defense counsel to present the discredited mental-disease-or-defect theory to the
jury a second time. But during closing arguments, defense counsel explained to
the jury that Garrett’s state of mind at the time of the offenses was not being
raised as a mitigating factor. Defense counsel asked the jury to consider Garrett’s
mental illness under the “catchall” mitigating factor in R.C. 2929.04(B)(7). And
by directing the jury to “consider all of the testimony and—And evidence relevant
to the aggravating circumstances * * * and mitigating—Mitigating factors raised
at both phases of the trial,” the trial court’s instructions did not foreclose the
jury’s consideration of any mitigating evidence. See State v. Goff, 82 Ohio St.3d
123, 130, 694 N.E.2d 916 (1998); Buchanan v. Angelone, 522 U.S. 269, 278, 118
S.Ct. 757, 139 L.Ed.2d 702 (1998). Thus, we reject Garrett’s argument that the
instruction pertaining to R.C. 2929.04(B)(3) “completely torpedoed the defense
mitigation.”
{¶ 227} Based on the foregoing, we reject proposition of law No. I.
2. Failure to instruct on R.C. 2929.04(B)(5) mitigating factor
{¶ 228} In proposition of law No. II, Garrett argues that the trial court
erred by failing to instruct the jury on his “lack of a significant history of prior
criminal convictions and delinquency adjudications” under R.C. 2929.04(B)(5).
However, defense counsel’s failure to object to this omission at trial forfeited all
but plain error. See State v. Powell, 132 Ohio St.3d 233, 2012-Ohio-2577, 971
N.E.2d 865, ¶ 189.
{¶ 229} During the trial phase, Sergeant Sicilian and Detective Porter
acknowledged Garrett’s lack of a criminal record while interviewing Garrett. And
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Dr. Reardon testified that “people generally don’t start their criminal career with
an offense like this.”
{¶ 230} While presenting the mitigation-phase opening statement, defense
counsel stated: “[Y]ou have a person in front of you that has a number of
mitigating circumstances for us to present to you. Absolutely, no prior record,
nothing, zero.” And during the mitigation hearing, Garrett’s mother testified that
he “[n]ever had a problem with the law.” And his grandmother stated that Garrett
“wasn’t one that got into trouble.” And finally, during mitigation closing
arguments, defense counsel asked the jurors to give “tremendous weight” to
Garrett’s lack of criminal history, reminding the jurors that the evidence showed
his lack of a criminal record “in a number of ways.” However, defense counsel
did not request an R.C. 2929.04(B)(5) instruction on Garrett’s lack of a criminal
history and one was not given.
{¶ 231} During the sentencing hearing, the trial court discussed the failure
to give such an instruction during mitigation. The trial court acknowledged that
evidence of Garrett’s lack of criminal history had been presented to the jury and
that it was also argued by counsel in opening statements and closing arguments at
the mitigation phase. Nonetheless, the court concluded that the absence of such
an instruction did not “disrupt or disturb the jury’s recommendation.”
{¶ 232} The trial court’s sentencing opinion stated that the jury was not
explicitly instructed as to Garrett’s lack of a significant criminal history. But the
trial court stated that “this mitigating factor was presented and argued to the jury
in mitigation, and the Court has considered this factor for purposes of this
opinion.” Thereafter, the trial court found that Garrett “had no prior criminal
history, either as a juvenile or an adult, prior to these offenses” and it gave “some
weight” to Garrett’s lack of prior criminal convictions against the sentence of
death under R.C. 2929.04(B)(5).
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{¶ 233} Garrett argues that the trial court was required to instruct the jury
as to R.C. 2929.04(B)(5) because his lack of a criminal record was clearly raised
during mitigation. But as discussed in proposition of law No. I, the failure to give
an instruction did not foreclose the jury’s consideration of Garrett’s lack of a
criminal record. Goff, 82 Ohio St.3d at 130, 694 N.E.2d 916; Buchanan, 522 U.S.
at 278, 118 S.Ct. 757, 139 L.Ed.2d 702. Testimony relating to Garrett’s lack of a
criminal record was discussed and argued during both phases of the trial. And the
jury was instructed to “consider all of the testimony and—And evidence relevant
to the * * * mitigating factors raised at both phases of the trial.”
{¶ 234} Garrett also claims that the jury likely believed that they could not
consider his lack of a criminal record when the trial court failed to give such
instruction. But no “reasonable likelihood,” Boyde v. California, 494 U.S. 370,
386, 110 S.Ct. 1190, 108 L.Ed.2d 316 (1990), exists that the jurors understood the
instructions to preclude consideration of Garrett’s lack of a criminal record,
particularly when the trial court instructed the jury on the catchall factor, R.C.
2929.04(B)(7), which allows the jury to consider “[a]ny other factors that are
relevant.” Thus, the trial court’s failure to provide an instruction on R.C.
2929.04(B)(5) did not result in plain error.
{¶ 235} Based on the foregoing, we reject proposition of law No. II.
3. Mercy as a mitigating factor
{¶ 236} In proposition of law No. XIV, Garrett argues that the trial court
erred by denying his request for an instruction on mercy during mitigation. The
trial court explained to counsel at a motions hearing: “Certainly Counsel can
argue mercy as under the catchall. * * * [B]ut I’m not going to give a specific
instruction * * * that you must consider mercy as one of the mitigating factors.”
{¶ 237} We have held that “[p]ermitting a jury to consider mercy, which is
not a mitigating factor and thus irrelevant to sentencing, would violate the well-
established principle that the death penalty must not be administered in an
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arbitrary, capricious or unpredictable manner.” State v. Lorraine, 66 Ohio St.3d
414, 417, 613 N.E.2d 212 (1993). Garrett acknowledges Lorraine’s holding but
argues that it should be reexamined.
{¶ 238} Garrett cites Kansas v. Marsh, 548 U.S. 163, 126 S.Ct. 2516, 165
L.Ed.2d 429 (2006), and Kansas v. Carr, 577 U.S. 108, 136 S.Ct. 633, 193
L.Ed.2d 535 (2016), to support his claim. But neither of these cases involved this
question or held that an instruction on considering mercy in mitigation is required.
And we have recently considered and rejected the same arguments. See State v.
Hundley, 162 Ohio St.3d 509, 2020-Ohio-3775, 166 N.E.3d 1066, ¶ 122; Ford,
158 Ohio St.3d 139, 2019-Ohio-4539, 140 N.E.3d 616, at ¶ 362.
{¶ 239} Because Garrett has presented no meritorious justification from
departing from this settled law, we reject proposition of law No. XIV.
J. Mitigation-phase ineffective assistance of counsel
{¶ 240} In proposition of law No. XIII, Garrett makes various claims that
his counsel provided ineffective assistance during mitigation. As discussed
earlier, in order for this court to reverse Garrett’s sentence, Garrett must establish
both that his counsel were deficient and that the deficient performance prejudiced
his defense so as to deprive him of a fair trial. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687,
104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674.
1. Reliance on Dr. Reardon’s report and failure to call an expert witness
{¶ 241} Garrett argues that defense counsel were ineffective by
introducing Dr. Reardon’s report during mitigation without offering additional
expert-witness testimony. Garrett contends that defense counsel should have
called a psychologist to tie together all the evidence about Garrett’s troubled
upbringing, early traumas, and other social history.
{¶ 242} “The decision to forgo the presentation of additional mitigating
evidence does not itself constitute proof of ineffective assistance of counsel.”
State v. Keith, 79 Ohio St.3d 514, 536, 684 N.E.2d 47 (1997). “The defense
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decision to call or not call a mitigation witness is a matter of trial strategy. * * *
Debatable trial tactics generally do not constitute ineffective assistance of
counsel.” State v. Elmore, 111 Ohio St.3d 515, 2006-Ohio-6207, 857 N.E.2d 547,
¶ 116.
{¶ 243} Counsel in a capital case have an “obligation to conduct a
thorough investigation of the defendant’s background” to determine the
availability of mitigating evidence. Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 396, 120
S.Ct. 1495, 146 L.Ed.2d 389 (2000). But “strategic choices made after thorough
investigation of law and facts relevant to plausible options are virtually
unchallengeable.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674.
{¶ 244} Nothing in the record shows that defense counsel did not conduct
an adequate investigation. Counsel hired Dr. Reardon, a mitigation specialist, a
private investigator, and another psychologist to complete a neuropsychological
exam on Garrett.
{¶ 245} Before the mitigation phase began, defense counsel informed the
court that Dr. Reardon would not be called as a mitigation witness, because he
had testified for close to four hours during the trial phase just one week earlier.
Defense counsel stated that “[the] psychological history of [Garrett] would have
been the exact same testimony * * * that [was] admitted in the trial phase that we
would be doing again in [the] mitigation phase with the exception of the focus, of
course, being on the sanity at the time of the offense.” Defense counsel added
that Dr. Reardon had testified “about * * * the Children Services records—Years
of abuse, neglect * * * and all of those things are already in a report that the jury
has already seen.” The trial court explained that recalling Dr. Reardon might
“annoy the jury as much as bolster anything that he’s already talked about.”
Counsel agreed that the defense had to “take that into consideration also” and
stated that this decision was a matter of trial strategy and that Garrett had not
shown any disapproval to the “pathway” that defense counsel had chosen. Thus,
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defense counsel’s decision not to recall Dr. Reardon or call another psychologist
to testify was a reasonable trial strategy. See State v. Maxwell, 139 Ohio St.3d 12,
2014-Ohio-1019, 9 N.E.3d 930, ¶ 195.
{¶ 246} Garrett argues that Dr. Reardon’s report did not mention
mitigation and focused on Garrett’s mental state at the time of the offenses. But
Dr. Reardon’s report provided a comprehensive discussion about Garrett’s chaotic
upbringing, homelessness, life in foster care, educational and employment history,
lack of criminal history, and the history of his relationship with Nicole.
Additionally, Dr. Reardon reported the results of multiple psychological tests and
Garrett’s DSM-5 diagnosis and opined that Garrett was insane when he murdered
C.D. Dr. Reardon’s report summed up his findings about Garrett’s background
and psychological history, stating:
Garrett’s Reactive Attachment Disorder and other psychological
conditions are, in my opinion, a consequence of some of the severe
neglect and abuse that he was subjected to during his infancy,
childhood, and adolescence. The evidence indicates that just about
any opportunity that [Garrett] had for any kind of meaningful
attachment was accompanied by disaster.
Thus, Dr. Reardon’s report provided ample mitigation for the jury to consider.
{¶ 247} Nevertheless, Garrett invokes the American Bar Association’s
(“ABA”) guidelines requiring defense counsel “to construct a persuasive narrative
in support of the case for life, rather than to simply present a catalog of seemingly
unrelated mitigating factors.” See American Bar Association, Guidelines for the
Appointment and Performance of Defense Counsel in Death Penalty Cases,
Guideline 10.11, Commentary (Rev.Ed. 2003), reprinted in 31 Hofstra L.Rev. 913
(2003). But the ABA guidelines are not “inexorable commands” with which all
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capital defense counsel must fully comply. Bobby v. Van Hook, 558 U.S. 4, 9,
130 S.Ct. 13, 175 L.Ed.2d 255 (2009); Maxwell at ¶ 183. Moreover, “[a]ttorneys
are not expected to present every potential mitigation theory, regardless of their
relative strengths.” Fears v. Bagley, 462 Fed.Appx. 565, 576 (6th Cir.2012).
Accordingly, defense counsel were not duty-bound to present psychological
testimony during mitigation.
2. Failure to elicit request for life sentence and expressions of love for the
defendant from mitigation witnesses
{¶ 248} Garrett argues that defense counsel were ineffective by failing to
ask mitigating witnesses to express their love for Garrett, their desire to continue
their relationship and support, and their wish that he be given a life sentence.
{¶ 249} During Garrett’s mitigation hearing, defense counsel called four
family members, Garrett’s godmother, and his high school football coach. These
witnesses helped humanize Garrett in front of the jury and showed that he had
many positive characteristics as a family member and that he was a hard worker.
{¶ 250} Nothing in the record shows whether witnesses would have
testified that they would have recommended a life sentence after Garrett was
found guilty of the aggravated murders of Nicole and C.D. And counsel may
have been concerned that answers to questions about these topics would yield
lukewarm or equivocating responses, thereby damaging Garrett’s case. It is also
highly speculative whether additional testimony from these witnesses would have
added anything to Garrett’s mitigating case or made any difference in the outcome
of the mitigation phase. See Wilks, 154 Ohio St.3d 359, 2018-Ohio-1562, 114
N.E.3d 1092, at ¶ 209. Thus, Garrett cannot establish that defense counsel were
deficient for failing to pursue this line of questioning. See Belton, 149 Ohio St.3d
165, 2016-Ohio-1581, 74 N.E.3d 319, at ¶ 143.
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3. Other ineffective-assistance claims
{¶ 251} Garrett recasts claims from other propositions of law into claims
of ineffective assistance of counsel. Garrett claims that counsel were ineffective
by failing to object to the readmission of all trial-phase evidence during mitigation
and for failing to request an instruction on Garrett’s having no prior criminal
record. But as discussed in earlier portions of this opinion, even if counsel were
deficient, Garrett has failed to establish prejudice.
4. Cumulative error
{¶ 252} Finally, Garrett argues that defense counsel’s cumulative errors
and omissions deprived him of his right to counsel, freedom from cruel and
unusual punishment, due process, and the right to a fair trial. But this claim lacks
merit because Garrett has not shown that he was prejudiced by any mitigation-
phase ineffective assistance of counsel.
{¶ 253} Based on the foregoing, we reject proposition of law No. XIII.
K. Sentencing opinion
{¶ 254} In proposition of law No. VIII, Garrett argues that the trial court’s
sentencing opinion contains numerous errors.
{¶ 255} R.C. 2929.03(F) sets forth the findings a trial court must make
when imposing a death sentence. The court must state, in a separate opinion, the
following:
[S]pecific findings as to the existence of any of the mitigating
factors set forth in division (B) of section 2929.04 of the Revised
Code, the existence of any other mitigating factors, the aggravating
circumstances the offender was found guilty of committing, and
the reasons why the aggravating circumstances the offender was
found guilty of committing were sufficient to outweigh the
mitigating factors.
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{¶ 256} First, Garrett argues that the trial court limited its consideration of
his mental-health issues under R.C. 2929.04(B)(3) (mental disease or defect at
time of the offense) but should have considered those issues under the catchall
provision, R.C. 2929.04(B)(7). Garrett complains that by doing so, the trial court
did not focus on the factors that were relevant to whether Garrett should have
been sentenced to death. See Ford, 158 Ohio St.3d 139, 2019-Ohio-4539, 140
N.E.3d 616, at ¶ 437.
{¶ 257} The trial court did not limit its consideration of Garrett’s mental
health to the R.C. 2929.04(B)(3) standard. The trial court gave “some weight” to
Garrett’s reactive-attachment disorder, stating that evidence of that diagnosis was
shown by Garrett’s keeping his distance from family members and his failure to
disclose C.D.’s existence until nearly three years after she was born. Thus, the
trial court’s reasoning implicitly considered Garrett’s mental health under the
“catchall” provision.
{¶ 258} Garrett also contends that the trial court “never even mentioned”
his unspecified bipolar disorder in its findings of fact and conclusions of law.
“While a sentencing court must consider all evidence of mitigation, it need not
discuss each factor individually.” State v. Phillips, 74 Ohio St.3d 72, 102, 656
N.E.2d 643 (1995). Here, the trial court stated that “[Dr.] Reardon opined
Defendant also suffers from an Unspecified Bipolar and Related Disorder.” Thus,
this claim also lacks merit.
{¶ 259} Second, Garrett argues that the trial court erred by not weighing
all the mitigating factors cumulatively against the aggravating circumstances.
Mitigating factors must be considered collectively, not individually. See State v.
Fears, 86 Ohio St.3d 329, 345, 715 N.E.2d 136 (1999). The sentencing opinion
separately addresses the nature and circumstances of the offenses; Garrett’s
history, nature, and background; his reactive-attachment disorder and mental state
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at the time of the offenses; and his youth, IQ, lack of a prior criminal history, and
remorse. The trial court then concludes that “the State of Ohio has proven beyond
a reasonable doubt that the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating
factors.” Thus, the trial court individually evaluated the mitigating factors, but
when weighing the mitigation against the aggravating circumstances, it
considered the mitigating factors together.
{¶ 260} Third, Garrett argues that the trial court improperly discounted
evidence of his history and background by stating: “Sadly, many individuals go
through the foster care process, which certainly causes instability in their tender
years. However, not every person who goes through foster care meticulously
decides to kill 2 people in cold blood.” Such comparison was not improper. See
Ford, 158 Ohio St.3d 139, 2019-Ohio-4539, 140 N.E.3d 616, at ¶ 434. Thus, this
claim also lacks merit.
{¶ 261} Fourth, Garrett asserts that the trial court erred by giving “no
weight” to his IQ of 85 when it stated:
[H]e lived independently, owned 2 vehicles, and maintained at
least 1 job at all times during adulthood. Although Defendant has
an I.Q. of 85, it is clear to the Court from listening to Defendant’s
statements that he is a bright individual capable of rational thought
processes. Furthermore, Defendant was admitted to the University
of Akron and Columbus State Community College.
{¶ 262} The assessment and weight of mitigating evidence are matters for
the trial court’s determination. See Ford at ¶ 437. Moreover, the fact that
mitigating evidence is admissible “does not automatically mean that it must be
given any weight.” State v. Steffen, 31 Ohio St.3d 111, 102, 509 N.E.2d 383(1987), paragraph two of the syllabus.
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{¶ 263} Garrett cites State v. Herring, 142 Ohio St.3d 165, 2014-Ohio-
5228, 28 N.E.3d 1217, and Carter v. Bell, 218 F.3d 581 (6th Cir.2000), in arguing
that the trial court’s dismissal of his low IQ is completely at odds with established
case law regarding mitigating evidence. Herring held that defense counsel were
ineffective by not presenting a variety of mitigating evidence. Herring at ¶ 123.
And in Carter, defense counsel failed to investigate, discover, and present any
mitigating evidence, including that Carter’s “IQ tested in the borderline mentally
retarded range in 1992, with a score of 79; [and that] a Beta IQ test from 1984
showed an IQ of 87.” Carter at 593, 600. But neither opinion held that the
defendant’s IQ must be considered mitigating by the sentencer. Thus, Garrett’s
reliance on these cases lacks merit.
{¶ 264} Fifth, Garrett complains that the trial court’s statements that
Garrett “decided to remove [the victims] from his life permanently,” that he
engaged in a “morbid cost-benefit analysis” and a “rational thought process,” and
that he “killed Nicole and [C.D.] without warning” demonstrate that the trial court
improperly considered the nature and circumstances of the offense as aggravating
circumstances. Similarly, Garrett argues that the trial court misspoke in stating
that he “laid in wait” for the victims, before “butchering” them, and that he
“purposely chose that time and place to kill Nicole and his daughter.”
{¶ 265} A trial court “may rely upon and cite the nature and circumstances
of the offense as reasons supporting its finding that the aggravating circumstances
were sufficient to outweigh the mitigating factors.” State v. Stumpf, 32 Ohio
St.3d 95, 512 N.E.2d 598 (1987), paragraph one of the syllabus. Here, the trial
court’s comments supported its conclusion that no mitigating value existed in the
nature and circumstances of the offenses. See State v. Hoffner, 102 Ohio St.3d
358, 2004-Ohio-3430, 811 N.E.2d 48, ¶ 79. Moreover, the trial court correctly
identified the three aggravating circumstances in its sentencing opinion, and we
can presume that the trial court relied on only those circumstances and not on
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nonstatutory aggravating circumstances. See State v. Clemons, 82 Ohio St.3d
438, 447, 696 N.E.2d 1009 (1998); State v. Hill, 73 Ohio St.3d 433, 441, 653
N.E.2d 271 (1995).
{¶ 266} Sixth, Garrett argues that the trial court shifted the burden of
proof by stating that neither Garrett’s background nor his lack of prior criminal
convictions and juvenile adjudications outweighed the aggravating circumstances.
The trial court’s wording improperly suggested that the defense had the burden of
persuasion. However, the trial court concluded that “the Court finds the State of
Ohio has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the aggravating circumstances
outweigh the mitigating factors against imposition of the death sentence, as found
in Counts 2 and 3.” Thus, when read as a whole, the sentencing opinion precludes
the inference that the trial court applied the wrong burden of proof in imposing
the sentence of death. See Cooey, 46 Ohio St.3d at 38, 544 N.E.2d 895.
{¶ 267} Finally, Garrett argues that the collective deficiencies of the
sentencing opinion may be corrected only by remanding this case for a “new
mitigation-phase jury trial.” There are no deficiencies in the sentencing opinion
that need to be corrected, and even if there were, our independent review would
be sufficient to cure the errors. See State v. Fox, 69 Ohio St.3d 183, 191, 631
N.E.2d 124 (1994).
{¶ 268} Based on the foregoing, we reject proposition of law No. XIII.
L. Cumulative error
{¶ 269} In proposition of law No. XVI, Garrett argues that his convictions
and sentence should be reversed based on the doctrine of cumulative error.
{¶ 270} Under the doctrine of cumulative error, we will reverse a
conviction when the cumulative effect of errors deprives a defendant of a fair trial
even though each of the instances of trial-court error does not individually
constitute cause for reversal. Powell, 132 Ohio St.3d 233, 2012-Ohio-2577, 971
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N.E.2d 865, at ¶ 223; State v. DeMarco, 31 Ohio St.3d 191, 509 N.E.2d 1256(1987), paragraph two of the syllabus.
{¶ 271} The doctrine of cumulative error is not applicable in this case.
Garrett received a fair trial. Moreover, none of the errors (repetitive crime-scene
photos, the prosecutor’s misstatements, or sentencing-opinion errors), when
considered either individually or cumulatively, resulted in prejudicial error. As
previously discussed in other propositions of law, overwhelming evidence was
presented that established Garrett’s guilt. Thus, proposition of law No. XVI is
rejected.
M. Constitutionality
{¶ 272} In proposition of law No. XV, Garrett challenges the
constitutionality of Ohio’s death-penalty statutes and claims that the statutes
violate international law and treaties to which the United States is a party. We
have previously rejected the same arguments, see, e.g., State v. Thompson, 141Ohio St.3d 254, 2014-Ohio-4751, 23 N.E.3d 1096, ¶ 279-280, and we do so
again.
IV. INDEPENDENT SENTENCE EVALUATION
{¶ 273} In proposition of law No. IX, Garrett argues that the death
sentence is not an appropriate sentence for him because of his traumatic
childhood, serious mental illness, low intellectual functioning, lack of a prior
criminal record, and positive relationships with family and friends. Having
considered Garrett’s other propositions of law, we now independently review
Garrett’s death sentence for appropriateness and proportionality as R.C.
2929.05(A) requires.
A. Aggravating circumstances
{¶ 274} Garrett was convicted of the three death-penalty specifications in
Count Three, the aggravated murder of C.D.: (1) a course-of-conduct
specification for committing multiple murders in violation of R.C. 2929.04(A)(5),
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(2) a specification for purposely causing the death of a child under the age of 13
in violation of R.C. 2929.04(A)(9), and (3) a specification for committing the
offense of aggravated murder to escape detection, apprehension, trial, or
punishment in violation of R.C. 2929.04(A)(3).
{¶ 275} The evidence at trial supports the jury’s findings of guilt as to the
three aggravating circumstances. On the morning of January 5, 2018, Garrett
drove to Nicole’s home and brutally attacked and murdered Nicole and four-year-
old C.D. as they were leaving their house. Garrett’s confession, the recovery of
his bloodstained clothing and the murder weapon from a storage unit at his
apartment complex, the bloodstained interior of his car, his injured hand, and the
coroner’s testimony all established Garrett’s guilt of the aggravating
circumstances.
B. Mitigating evidence presented
{¶ 276} Against these aggravating circumstances, we must weigh the
mitigating factors contained in R.C. 2929.04(B). Garrett urges us to assign
weight to the following mitigating factors: (1) serious mental illness, (2) low
intellectual functioning, (3) lack of a prior criminal record, (4) traumatic
childhood, and (5) positive relationships with family and friends.
{¶ 277} In mitigation, Garrett presented testimony from six witnesses,
resubmitted Dr. Reardon’s report, and made an unsworn statement. He also made
a statement in allocution at the sentencing hearing.
1. Bernice McCoy
{¶ 278} Bernice, Garrett’s mother, testified that Garrett is the oldest of her
six children. Bernice was 17 years old when Garrett was born. Demond Joshua,
Garrett’s father, was in prison and not part of Garrett’s life when Garrett was
growing up. Bernice stated that Garrett was placed in foster care when he was six
to ten months old because she was thought to be an unfit parent. She regained
custody of Garrett when he was about two years old.
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{¶ 279} Bernice and Tim Fultz (“Big Tim”) began a relationship around
the time that she had regained custody of Garrett. Bernice’s relationship with Big
Tim lasted until Garrett was six or seven years old.
{¶ 280} When Garrett was three years old, Keion, one of Garrett’s
brothers, died of SIDS. And Tymeika, his sister, suffered severe brain damage
when she was four months old. Hospital negligence caused Tymeika’s condition,
and Bernice received a $600,000 settlement. Bernice stated that she had placed
$10,000 into an account for Garrett that he could access when he turned 21 or 25,
and Bernice does not believe that Garrett has ever accessed those funds. Garrett
has maintained a relationship with Tymeika, and somewhat recently, escorted her
to the prom.
{¶ 281} Bernice and Carlton McCoy began a relationship when Garrett
was about 11 years old. Garrett returned to foster care after alleging that McCoy
had abused Garrett’s brother, Timothy. McCoy was charged with assault and
endangering children based upon Garrett’s allegations. However, the charges
were later dropped after an investigation revealed no abuse and that Garrett had
made the story up.
{¶ 282} But, as explained by Bernice, Garrett did not return home for two
years and stayed with “three or four foster families, maybe five” during that time
frame. After Bernice and McCoy separated, Garrett returned home and lived with
his mother and two of his brothers.
{¶ 283} Garrett went to Brookhaven High School, where he played
football and competed in track and field. Bernice testified that Garrett lived with
her until he was 17 and then moved in with his aunt, Samantha Loveless. Garrett
was accepted to the University of Akron but chose to attend Columbus State
Community College. Garrett had various jobs, including as a janitor at the Ohio
State University Medical Center, in a warehouse, and as a mail carrier in
Westerville. He moved into his first apartment when he turned 18.
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{¶ 284} Bernice stated that Garrett did not share much information about
himself with the rest of the family. She did not find out about C.D. until C.D. was
two and a half years old and did not meet C.D. until C.D. was three. Bernice was
“shocked” when she found out that Garrett was suspected of murdering Nicole
and C.D. Bernice said that Garrett “wasn’t a violent person at all” and he
“[n]ever had a problem with the law.”
2. Dorinda Garrett
{¶ 285} Dorinda Garrett, Garrett’s maternal grandmother, testified that she
has three children and that Bernice is her middle child. Bernice started running
away from home when she was 14 and would be gone for two to three weeks at a
time. Bernice was 16 years old when she became pregnant with Garrett. At that
time, Dorinda did not know who the father was.
{¶ 286} Bernice lived with Dorinda during her pregnancy. After Garrett
was born, Bernice frequently took Garrett and ran away. Eventually, Dorinda felt
that she had to report Bernice to Children Services because Garrett was dirty, had
a diaper rash, and was hungry. Children Services subsequently removed Garrett
from Dorinda’s home when he was about two months old. He was returned
approximately one month later. But three or four weeks later, Bernice resumed
the same behavior.
{¶ 287} Later, Dorinda met Garrett’s paternal grandmother and learned
that Joshua was Garrett’s father. Bernice and Garrett would stay at Joshua’s
home when Bernice ran away. On numerous occasions thereafter, Bernice and
Garrett would leave home, Dorinda would report them missing, and Joshua’s
mother would call a week or so later and say that Bernice and Garrett were there
and needed to be picked up. Dorinda told Bernice that Garrett was a baby and
needed a stable environment. Garrett was then placed in foster care for the next
two and a half years.
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{¶ 288} Bernice and Big Tim then began a relationship and had a child
named Timothy (“Little Tim”). Bernice also regained custody of Garrett.
Dorinda often visited Bernice and Garrett. Because Big Tim was not feeding
them, Dorinda often bought them lunch. Over the next few years, Big Tim and
Bernice would get into arguments, and he would force Bernice to leave the house.
Bernice, Garrett, and Little Tim would then stay with Dorinda for a week or so
before returning to live with Big Tim. Bernice and Big Tim later separated.
{¶ 289} Bernice received a financial settlement for Tymeika’s injuries.
According to Dorinda, Bernice was supposed to place $10,000 from the
settlement into a trust for Garrett but never did. Dorinda also stated that Garrett
seemed traumatized after Keion died of SIDS. Garrett did not want to sleep and
was always hovering over Little Tim. Dorinda told Bernice that she should get
Garrett some mental-health care, but that never happened.
{¶ 290} Bernice and her sons left Dorinda’s home around the time she
obtained the settlement. Dorinda later learned that they moved into an apartment
next to McCoy. Bernice isolated herself from the family after she started dating
McCoy. And Dorinda had almost no contact with Garrett by the time he was nine
or ten years old.
{¶ 291} Dorinda resumed her relationship with Garrett after he turned 18.
Garrett moved to Reynoldsburg so that he could live closer to Dorinda. Garrett
visited her once or twice a week. He would cut the grass, shovel snow, and run
errands for her. He also visited her on his lunch hour when he worked as a mail
carrier. Dorinda stated that Garrett worked two jobs and never got into any
trouble. Dorinda could not believe that Garrett killed Nicole and C.D. because he
“would have been the last one that [Dorinda] would ever thought would hurt
anybody.”
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3. Anthony Thornton
{¶ 292} Anthony Thornton was Garrett’s head football coach at
Brookhaven High School. Thornton stated that Garrett rarely missed practices
and did everything that was asked of him. Garrett was “never a problem in the
classroom, in the hallways, or even on the field.” Thornton was “devastated”
when he found out that Garrett had committed these murders. He added: “I just
knew there had to be something else that was transpiring within his life for him to
make that type of decision.”
4. James Garrett III
{¶ 293} James Garrett III is Garrett’s cousin. James did not spend time
with Garrett until Garrett was 15 or 16 years old. Garrett worked as a janitor at
Ohio State University with James’s brother. James and Garrett also spent time
together at amusement parks and doing other recreational activities. Despite
having spent time together, Garrett did not tell James that he had a daughter until
shortly before the murders.
{¶ 294} James was “shocked, appalled” and “saddened” when he learned
about the murders. He had no idea of the problems that Garrett was having in his
life. James never thought Garrett would commit such crimes.
5. Samantha Loveless
{¶ 295} Samantha Loveless, Garrett’s aunt, was in Garrett’s life when he
was between five and eight years old. But then Garrett was “separated from [the
family] and kept from [them] for periods of time” because of “abuse and the
things that were going on at home.” Loveless resumed her relationship with
Garrett when he was around 14 years old. She stated that Garrett would come to
her home and “stay for a couple days” whenever Garrett’s mother would “put him
out.” Loveless also testified that Garrett went to live with her on the east side of
Columbus when he turned 18. Loveless described Garrett as “mild mannered,
reserved. [She had] never even seen him get upset. Even through his high school
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years, he [had] always done great, always excelled.” Loveless added, “He pushed
himself. He was very driven. * * * He was always very organized, militant; so
everything was by order. He didn’t miss work. He didn’t miss school. He was
very structured as a young kid.” Loveless stated that Garrett planned on attending
the University of Akron, but his mother would not sign the enrollment paperwork.
But Garrett never talked about what happened because “he [had] done a good job
of just concealing things and, you know, not wanting to talk bad about his mom,
protecting her.”
{¶ 296} Loveless continued to see Garrett a few times a week before the
murders. He brought her gifts and never missed Sunday dinner with Loveless and
her family. Loveless could not believe that Garrett committed the murders. She
explained, “[H]e never did anything wrong. [She had] never even seen him have
a temper. * * * He was a lover. He was a protector. He always was that person.”
6. Adrienne Hood
{¶ 297} Adrienne Hood, Garrett’s godmother, testified that Garrett went to
high school with her oldest son. Garrett stayed at Hood’s home almost every
weekend, and in the summer, he spent most of his time at her home. Hood stated
that Garrett was very respectful. He would cut the grass and do other chores.
{¶ 298} Hood stated that after her son was shot and killed, Garrett would
check on her, bring her flowers, and visit on her birthday. Garrett called Hood
“mom.”
{¶ 299} Hood testified that Garrett was utterly disappointed when he was
not able to enroll at the University of Akron. Hood encouraged him to attend
Columbus State, take all his general-education classes, and then decide what to
do. Garrett followed her advice by attending Columbus State and by working two
jobs.
{¶ 300} Hood collapsed when she read that Garrett had committed the
murders. She was surprised because she said, “[o]ut of all of the kids that I’ve
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ever had at my house, I wasn’t going to have to worry about him. Because he’s
always been a go-getter. He— I don’t have to tell him anything, so I was crushed.
I’m crushed still. This is devastating. All the way around it’s devastating.”
7. Dr. Reardon’s report
{¶ 301} Dr. Reardon’s report provided a comprehensive review of
Garrett’s upbringing and mental status.
a. Relevant court records
{¶ 302} Franklin County juvenile-court records reported that Garrett’s
stepfather struck him with a belt in December 2006. A medical examination
showed “multiple healed linear scars on [Garrett’s] left shoulder blade and the
back of his legs.” An accompanying psychological evaluation diagnosed Garrett
with a reactive-attachment disorder, which was described as a “psychological
disorder typically seen in children and adolescents who have been neglected and
abused.”
b. Foster care
{¶ 303} Garrett, who was born on May 20, 1993, was placed in foster care
on three different occasions: (1) from September 10, 1993, to December 1, 1993,
(2) from December 14, 1993, to May 12, 1995, and (3) from February 2, 2007, to
February 11, 2009. Dr. Reardon commented:
[D]uring some of the most critical times for a child’s emotional
development * * * [Garrett] was removed from his mother’s care
for all but approximately three months of the first two years of his
life. * * * Given circumstances like this, it is not a mystery why
[Garrett] would ultimately be diagnosed with a Reactive
Attachment Disorder and why he would have significant
difficulties in terms of formulation of relationships, particularly
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intimate relationships with caregivers and other people that a
normal infant/child would not be exposed to.
c. Interview of Bernice and McCoy
{¶ 304} Garrett is the oldest of Bernice’s six children. McCoy has known
Garrett since Garrett was a child. Joshua, Garrett’s father, has been in prison for
almost all of Garrett’s life.
{¶ 305} Bernice reported that Garrett was five or six years old when she
broke up with Big Tim. Subsequently, Bernice and Garrett were homeless for a
significant period and lived in a shelter. Bernice and McCoy were married when
Garrett was 11 years old. McCoy’s son came to live with them when Garrett was
12 or 13 years old. Bernice said there were “some issues” and Garrett felt that
McCoy treated his own son more favorably than Garrett.
{¶ 306} Bernice felt that Nicole “controlled [Garrett] because of their age
difference, and he didn’t know what to do.” Bernice did not even know that
Garrett was involved with Nicole until Bernice saw a pair of girl’s shoes at
Garrett’s apartment. And Bernice never met C.D. until C.D.’s third birthday in
September 2016. Bernice “kind of knew” that Garrett and Nicole had ended their
relationship in the summer of 2017. Both McCoy and Bernice told Garrett, “We
are here—We love you—Let’s all forget the past.”
{¶ 307} In the fall of 2017, Bernice saw a Facebook post from Nicole
indicating that she was “going to find another daddy for [her] baby.” Bernice
believed that Nicole “used [C.D.] as a weapon against [Garrett].” Nevertheless,
Bernice was shocked that Garrett could ever kill them, “especially * * * [C.D.]
who he loved.”
d. History and clinical interview
{¶ 308} Garrett was born and raised in the Columbus area. Garrett spent
years in different foster homes. Garrett described his mom as “not a fit mom.”
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Big Tim was involved with his mother from the time Garrett was two and a half
or three years old until he was around five. Garrett described him as “kind of like
dad.”
{¶ 309} Garrett graduated from Brookhaven High School in 2011.
Garrett, Bernice, and McCoy confirmed that Garrett had multiple concussions
from playing football. He was also involved in a serious motorcycle accident in
2015, sustaining a head injury that required numerous stitches. Otherwise, Garrett
has never had any significant injuries or illnesses.
{¶ 310} Garrett’s employment history includes a sales position at the
Columbus Dispatch, a janitorial position at The Ohio State University Medical
Center, a variety of warehouse jobs, a mail-carrier position for the United States
Post Office, and a forklift-driver position. He also operated two food trucks,
which continued until the date of these offenses.
{¶ 311} Dr. Reardon reported that Garrett has never been arrested for any
felony or misdemeanor charges other than traffic offenses.
{¶ 312} Garrett stated that Nicole was his first significant relationship. In
2012, they met at a tattoo parlor. Garrett was 19 and Nicole was 29. Nicole
relocated from Long Island, New York, to Columbus and moved in with Garrett.
Nicole told Garrett she could not become pregnant, so Garrett felt “tricked” when
she became pregnant after eight months of dating. About one year after C.D. was
born, Garrett met C.D. and told Nicole that he wanted to be there for C.D., but he
did not want any other relationship with Nicole. He started seeing C.D. on a
weekly basis and began paying child support.
{¶ 313} Garrett began a relationship with another woman in 2015. Nicole
contacted Garrett’s new girlfriend and told her that she was still seeing Garrett, so
the new girlfriend ended her relationship with Garrett. According to Garrett,
when he later visited C.D., Nicole would do things like come to the door naked to
try to get him to have sex with her. In 2016, Garrett stopped talking to Nicole and
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did not see C.D. for almost a year. In early 2017, Nicole told Garrett that if he
wanted to see C.D., he needed to pay her money in addition to the child support
he was paying.
{¶ 314} Garrett became frustrated with Nicole because she limited his
opportunity to see C.D. By late spring or early summer of 2017, Garrett stopped
paying extra money to see C.D. Consequently, Nicole stopped letting Garrett see
C.D. By midsummer, Garrett stopped paying child support. Later that summer,
Garrett became involved with a new girlfriend. She became pregnant and got an
abortion. Garrett reported that it was “not [his] choice” and that “it took a toll.”
Dr. Reardon commented that “[f]rom a psychodynamic point of view, this was
then two more significant losses—the loss of his relationship with his daughter
[C.D.] because of Nicole[’s] * * * refusal to let him see her, and the loss of
another child when his girlfriend * * * had an abortion.”
{¶ 315} Garrett reported that “the convergence of all these factors” was
the “tipping point.” He had also received an email stating that because he was in
arrears with child support, if he was stopped for any kind of traffic offense, his
driver’s license would be confiscated, which meant he could not get to work. In
this state of mind, Garrett went to Nicole’s house and killed Nicole and C.D.
When asked why he had killed C.D., Garrett told Dr. Reardon, “I refused to let
anyone else raise my child. I didn’t want my daughter to grow up without a dad
like I had. I couldn’t do that to her.” Garrett said that afterwards, he “didn’t care
about nothing—I wish I wouldn’t have done it—I was just in a state of shock and
disbelief of what I had done.”
e. Psychological testing
{¶ 316} Testing showed that Garrett has a full-scale IQ of 85 on the
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition, indicating that his intellectual
functioning is in the low-average range. Results from the Test of Memory
Malingering, the Miller Forensic Assessment of Symptoms Test, and the
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Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomology indicated no evidence of
exaggeration of symptoms or malingering of psychological problems.
{¶ 317} The profiles for the main clinical scales of the Personality
Assessment Inventory, Revised, showed that only Garrett’s mania scale was
outside the normal limits. Dr. Reardon stated that such individuals are “typically
impulsive and lack judgment in situations which leads to significant impairment
in terms of decision making. They may experience flight of ideas and may be
delusional in terms of their thinking.” The hypervigilance subscale for paranoia
was also significantly elevated, which reflects a predisposition to distrust others
and to be hypervigilant and guarded about interactions with others. Dr. Reardon
emphasized the extreme cognitive rigidity of Garrett’s response style, which
reflected the “all or nothing thinking that [Garrett] ha[d] developed.”
{¶ 318} Results from the Impact of Event Scale showed that Garrett’s
intrusion scale score was “approximately 1½ times the average score for a
traumatized population and was more than 11 times the average score for a non-
traumatized control population.” And his significantly elevated avoidance-scale
score “suggests that avoidance or psychic numbing are primary defense
mechanisms for [Garrett] with regard to the effects of this traumatic situation.”
{¶ 319} Dr. Reardon also reported that results from the Dissociative
Subtype of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale “suggest a significant likelihood
of the presence of dissociative symptoms and evidence consistent with a
derealization/depersonalization episode at the time of the events of 01/08/18,
specifically with regard to [Garrett’s] actions regarding his daughter [C.D.]” Dr.
Reardon cited these results as “further evidence” that Garrett had “an acute
dissociative episode at the time of the offense with regard to his daughter [C.D.]”
f. Diagnoses and expert opinions
{¶ 320} Referring to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (5th Ed.2013) (“DSM-5”), Dr. Reardon diagnosed Garrett with:
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(1) “Reactive Attachment Disorder, Persistent,” (2) “Unspecified Bipolar and
Related Disorder,” and (3) “Schizoid Personality Disorder * * * With acute
dissociative episode.”
{¶ 321} Dr. Reardon opined that as Garrett’s “emotional condition
deteriorated and he vacillated between feelings of anger and rage toward Nicole
and feelings of hopelessness and being lost with regard to [C.D.], his reasoning
ability deteriorated to the point where he actually thought and verbalized that
‘doing what he ended up doing was the only way out.’ ” Dr. Reardon concluded:
Although his state of mine [sic] was clearly severely
deranged at the time of his assault against Nicole Duckson, it
appears that from a legal point of view he probably was aware that
what he was doing was against the law. At that point, he was
simply “over the edge” and unable to control his actions. It is my
opinion to reasonable psychological certainty, however, that at the
time of his assault and homicide of his daughter, [C.D.], * * *
Garrett was in an acute dissociative episode. As a result of this,
there was a severe disruption of the normal integration of
consciousness, memory, emotion, and behavior. In this severely
impaired emotional state, he was unable to appreciate the
wrongfulness of his acts because he was in the dissociative
reaction.
8. Garrett’s statements
{¶ 322} Garrett made the following unsworn statement to the jury:
First and foremost, I want to tell—Tell everybody that I’m
sorry for what I did. I did it and I’m sorry. I want to say I’m sorry
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to the family, to Mr. Duckson, especially the parents, and to the
Duckson family. And I’m sorry to my family because you lost a
family member as well and this is going to live with me for the rest
of my life. It’s been living with me for the rest of my life and I’m
just—I’m sorry.
{¶ 323} Before sentencing, Garrett presented a final statement to the court
in allocution, stating, “I just have it in my heart again to say to the family that I’m
sorry and that’s it.”
C. State’s rebuttal
{¶ 324} The state reintroduced Dr. Martell’s trial-phase testimony and
report in rebuttal.
{¶ 325} Dr. Martell wrote in his report that Dr. Reardon’s test
interpretations were “generally reasonable and consistent with the findings
reflected in the test data.” However, Dr. Martell wrote that “Dr. Reardon’s
diagnosis of Schizoid Personality Disorder is contraindicated by data from the
[Personality Assessment Inventory].” While a schizoid personality disorder is
characterized by a lack of interest in social relationships, Dr. Martell opined that
Garrett’s test results indicate very strong needs for attention and affiliation. Dr.
Martell further wrote that Dr. Reardon’s use of the Impact of Event Scale “d[id]
not reflect [Garrett’s] mental state at the time of the offenses, but rather his
reaction to what he had done almost a year later.” And Dr. Martell wrote that Dr.
Reardon deviated from the standardized administration of the Dissociative
Subtype of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale by asking Garrett whether he
had experienced specific dissociative symptoms at the time of the offense, rather
than “ ‘in the past month’ as intended.”
{¶ 326} Dr. Martell explained that Dr. Reardon presented “no evidence
from Mr. Garrett’s history that he has experienced manic episodes in the past, or
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that he was exhibiting symptoms of mania at the time of the killings.” He
observed that “[i]f * * * Garrett does indeed suffer from an Unspecified Bipolar
Disorder; it is a disorder that is episodic.”
{¶ 327} Dr. Martell also disagreed with Dr. Reardon’s findings that
Garrett was in a dissociated state when he killed C.D.
D. Weighing
{¶ 328} Nothing in the circumstances of the offenses is mitigating.
Garrett went to Nicole’s home after receiving an email threatening him with
incarceration or loss of his driver’s license for nonpayment of child support.
Garrett began stabbing Nicole as she came out the door; then he stabbed C.D.
multiple times in the head, face, and torso when she tried to run away. Garrett
fled the scene and hid the knife and clothes. These horrific crimes lack any
mitigating features.
{¶ 329} The statutory mitigating factors under R.C. 2929.04(B) include
R.C. 2929.04(B)(1) (victim inducement), (B)(2) (duress, coercion, or strong
provocation), (B)(3) (mental disease or defect), (B)(4) (youth of the offender),
(B)(5) (lack of a significant criminal record), (B)(6) (accomplice only), and (B)(7)
(any other relevant factors).
{¶ 330} R.C. 2929.04(B)(1), (2), and (6) are not applicable. And Garrett’s
age of 24 at the time of the murders only nominally satisfies R.C.
2929.04(B)(4)—i.e., “youth of the offender”—and is entitled to little weight. See
State v. Green, 66 Ohio St.3d 141, 153, 609 N.E.2d 1253 (1993) (age of 24 was
entitled to “slight weight”); State v. Post, 32 Ohio St.3d 380, 394, 513 N.E.2d 754(1987) (age of 24 was “not a mitigating factor”). However, the mitigating
evidence shows that other factors also deserve weight.
{¶ 331} First, Garrett’s mental-health history is entitled to some weight
under R.C. 2929.04(B)(3) and (7). Defense counsel made a tactical decision not
to raise R.C. 2929.04(B)(3) during mitigation because counsel did not want to risk
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annoying the jury after it had already rejected Garrett’s NGRI defense. But sanity
or insanity is not the issue in the penalty phase. Dr. Reardon testified that Garrett
lacked substantial capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct and that
Garrett suffers from a bipolar and related disorder.3 But Dr. Martell’s report
indicated that if Garrett does suffer from an unspecified bipolar disorder, the
disorder is “episodic.” In sum, the limited evidence about Garrett’s possible
bipolar diagnosis is not dispositive. Nevertheless, Dr. Reardon’s testimony that
Garrett suffers from a bipolar condition deserves weight under R.C.
2929.04(B)(7).
{¶ 332} Garrett’s IQ of 85, which indicates that his intellectual
functioning is in the low-average range, is also entitled to some weight. See
Froman, 162 Ohio St.3d 435, 2020-Ohio-4523, 165 N.E.3d 1198, at ¶ 183 (IQ of
86 was entitled to “some weight”); Maxwell, 139 Ohio St.3d 12, 2014-Ohio-1019,
9 N.E.3d 930, at ¶ 279 (IQ of 84 entitled to “appropriate weight”).
{¶ 333} Second, Garrett’s lack of a prior criminal record is entitled to
significant weight in mitigation under R.C. 2929.04(B)(5). See Leonard, 104
Ohio St.3d 54, 2004-Ohio-6235, 818 N.E.2d 229, at ¶ 199; Hoffner, 102 Ohio
St.3d 358, 2004-Ohio-3430, 811 N.E.2d 48, at ¶ 115.
{¶ 334} Third, Garrett experienced a dysfunctional upbringing. He was
born to a teenage mother and an absent father. He spent much of his early life in
a series of foster homes. Before Garrett was six years old, he had experienced the
trauma of his brother’s death and his sister’s brain injury. Nevertheless, he
graduated from high school and attended some college. And this court has
3. Under 2020 Am.Sub.H.B. 136, which took effect during the pendency of this appeal, a person
who has been diagnosed with a “serious mental illness,” which includes bipolar disorder, R.C.
2929.025(A)(1)(a)(iii), is ineligible for a death sentence if the person raises the issue before trial
and proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the illness “significantly impaired the person’s
capacity to exercise rational judgment,” R.C. 2929.025(A)(1)(b), with respect to either conforming
to the law or appreciating the nature, consequences, or wrongfulness of the person’s conduct. See
2929.025(C) through (F). Garrett’s bipolar condition and its relation to the murders was not
litigated at trial.
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“seldom ascribed much weight in mitigation to a defendant’s unstable or troubled
childhood.” Kirkland, 160 Ohio St.3d 389, 2020-Ohio-4079, 157 N.E.3d 716, at
¶ 174. Still, Garrett’s dysfunctional upbringing is entitled to some weight under
R.C. 2929.04(B)(7). See State v. Graham, 164 Ohio St.3d 187, 2020-Ohio-6700,
172 N.E.3d 841, ¶ 208.
{¶ 335} Fourth, we give weight to evidence that Garrett has been a hard
worker and consistently employed. See Trimble, 122 Ohio St.3d 297, 2009-Ohio-
2961, 911 N.E.2d 242, at ¶ 327.
{¶ 336} Fifth, we give weight to the support that he has from family
members who testified on his behalf. See State v. Jackson, 141 Ohio St.3d 171,
2014-Ohio-3707, 23 N.E.3d 1023, ¶ 301.
{¶ 337} Finally, Garrett’s remorse for killing Nicole and C.D. is entitled to
weight. Significantly, Garrett’s remorse was accompanied by a complete
confession that aided the police in completing their investigation.
{¶ 338} Garrett’s decision to murder of Nicole and C.D. was senseless,
horrific, and terrible. But Garrett presented significant mitigating evidence. He
was raised by a teenage mother, spent much of his early years in a series of foster
homes, and experienced tragedy with his younger brother’s death and his sister’s
permanent brain injuries. Garrett’s mental-health problems undoubtedly played a
role in C.D.’s murder. However, there is no evidence that he received any
treatment for his mental-health problems, even though he was diagnosed with a
reactive-attachment disorder in 2007.
{¶ 339} Garrett’s lack of a criminal record and the testimony about his
mental-health problems under R.C. 2929.04(B)(3), (5), and (7) provide the
strongest mitigation. We choose, however, not to accord great weight to the
mitigating factor of lack of a criminal history under R.C. 2929.04(B)(5) because
Garrett’s entry into the criminal ranks was “terrifyingly brutal.” See State v.
Grant, 67 Ohio St.3d 465, 486, 620 N.E.2d 50 (1993). We also decline to give
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overriding weight to Garrett’s mental-health problems under R.C. 2929.04(B)(3)
and (7), particularly in view of the conflicting expert testimony about Garrett’s
mental state at the time of the murders. Moreover, as the trial court noted in its
sentencing opinion, Garrett killed Nicole and C.D. “after carefully weighing the
benefits and costs of doing so.”
{¶ 340} As for the aggravating circumstances, the commission of multiple
murders carries great weight. The specification pertaining to murdering a child
under 13 is also entitled to great weight because it involves the murder of a young
and vulnerable victim. And the escaping-detection specification adds more
weight to the state’s side of the scale. See State v. Lawson, 165 Ohio St.3d 445,
2021-Ohio-3566, 179 N.E.2d 1216, ¶ 183.
{¶ 341} This case is decidedly unlike the two most recent cases in which
we have found that the aggravating circumstances did not outweigh the mitigating
circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt, State v. Johnson, 144 Ohio St.3d 518,
2015-Ohio-4903, 45 N.E.3d 208, and Graham, 164 Ohio St.3d at 187, 2020-Ohio-
6700, 172 N.E.3d 841. Johnson and Graham were both 19-year-old defendants
who “entered a residence to commit robbery and murdered a [single] person
inside.” Graham at ¶ 215. By contrast, Garrett was 24 years old; he traveled to
Nicole’s home, lay in wait, and then killed Nicole and his four-year old daughter.
{¶ 342} We conclude that the mitigating evidence collectively pales in
significance to the aggravating circumstances of Garrett’s brutal murder of four-
year-old C.D. Thus, upon independent weighing, we find that the aggravating
circumstances outweigh the mitigating factors beyond a reasonable doubt.
E. Proportionality
{¶ 343} As a final matter, we must determine whether the sentence is
appropriate and proportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases. R.C.
2929.05(A). We have previously upheld death sentences for a course of conduct
under R.C. 2929.04(A)(5). See Trimble, 122 Ohio St.3d 297, 2009-Ohio-2961,
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911 N.E.2d 242, at ¶ 329; State v. Gapen, 104 Ohio St.3d 358, 2004-Ohio-6548,
819 N.E.2d 1047, ¶ 182. And we have upheld the death sentence as punishment
for other child murders under R.C. 2929.04(A)(9). See State v. Clinton, 153 Ohio
St.3d 422, 2017-Ohio-9423, 108 N.E.3d 1, ¶ 298; State v. Hunter, 131 Ohio St.3d
67, 2011-Ohio-6524, 960 N.E.2d 955, ¶ 206. Finally, we have upheld the death
penalty for other murders to avoid detection, apprehension, trial, or punishment
under R.C. 2929.04(A)(3). See State v. Craig, 110 Ohio St.3d 306, 2006-Ohio-
4571, 853 N.E.2d 621, ¶ 148; State v. Lynch, 98 Ohio St.3d 514, 2003-Ohio-2284,
787 N.E.2d 1185, ¶ 196.
V. CONCLUSION
{¶ 344} For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the convictions and death
sentence. But we note that the trial court erred in imposing a 12-month sentence
for Count Four in the September 14, 2019 judgment entry after imposing a 36-
month sentence for Count Four at the sentencing hearing. The trial court also
erred when, at Garrett’s sentencing hearing and in the September 14, 2019
judgment entry, it imposed a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for
Count One but then indicated that Garrett was eligible for parole in the September
16, 2019 entry.
{¶ 345} Accordingly, we remand this case to the trial court for it to issue a
nunc pro tunc entry conforming the September 14, 2019 judgment entry and the
September 16, 2019 entry to the sentence that was imposed at the sentencing
hearing.
Judgment affirmed
and cause remanded.
O’CONNOR, C.J., and KENNEDY and DEWINE, JJ., concur.
DUHART, J., concurs in part and dissents in part, with an opinion joined by
DONNELLY and STEWART, JJ.
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MYRON C. DUHART, J., of the Sixth District Court of Appeals, sitting for
BRUNNER, J.
_________________
DUHART, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part.
{¶ 346} I agree with the majority’s decision to affirm Kristopher Garrett’s
convictions, but I disagree with the majority’s holding that the aggravating
circumstances outweigh the mitigating factors beyond a reasonable doubt. The
majority does not give sufficient weight to Garrett’s (1) serious mental-health
issues, (2) lack of a prior criminal record, and (3) dysfunctional childhood.
Accordingly, because I would reverse Garrett’s death sentence, I dissent in part.
{¶ 347} The majority does not give sufficient weight in mitigation to the
findings made by Dr. James P. Reardon, a forensic psychologist, that at the time
of the offenses, Garrett suffered from a “severe mental disease” and was in a
dissociative state and therefore “was not able to appreciate the wrongfulness of
the acts charged.” R.C. 2929.04(B)(3) allows the fact-finder to consider whether
“at the time of committing the offense, the offender, because of a mental disease
or defect, lacked substantial capacity to appreciate the criminality of [his] conduct
or to conform [his] conduct to the requirements of the law.” This court has
previously stated that a psychological report regarding a defendant’s sanity is
relevant to establishing mitigating evidence under that section because the “issues
involved are similar: whether a ‘mental disease or defect’ existed and, if so,
whether and to what degree it may have impaired his cognition and volition.”
State v. Cooey, 46 Ohio St.3d 20, 33, 544 N.E.2d 895 (1989), superseded by
constitutional amendment on other grounds as stated by State v. Smith, 80 Ohio
St.3d 89, 102, 684 N.E.2d 668 (1997), fn. 4.
{¶ 348} Although the jury rejected Garrett’s defense of not guilty by
reason of insanity during the trial phase, Dr. Reardon’s initial report about
Garrett’s mental state at the time that Garrett committed the offenses provided
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compelling mitigating testimony. Dr. Reardon’s report stated that Garrett had
“virtually no recollection for the actual events of that morning [January 5, 2018,]
once he had stabbed Nicole Duckson. He appeared to be almost completely
unaware of the actual magnitude of the assaults.”
{¶ 349} Dr. Reardon opined to a reasonable degree of psychological
certainty that Garrett was in a dissociative state “during the time of the actual
offense.” Dr. Reardon explained that because of being in a dissociated state,
Garrett had “no conscious recollection of the degree or magnitude of his actions
on the morning of the offense. This is particularly true as it pertains to his
daughter [C.D]. In fact, his perception is that he had no choice where she was
concerned because he ‘couldn’t abandon her’ (like he had been abandoned by his
father).” Clearly, this evidence establishes that Garrett “lacked substantial
capacity to appreciate the criminality of [his] conduct or to conform [his] conduct
to the requirements of the law,” R.C. 2929.04(B)(3).
{¶ 350} Garrett was diagnosed with persistent reactive-attachment
disorder. According to Dr. Reardon, this disorder does not allow “normal
attachment * * * of a child to significant people in their environment, typically
mom and dad initially, maybe grandparents.” Garrett was also diagnosed with
“schizoid personality disorder with acute dissociative episode.” According to Dr.
Reardon, a person who has been diagnosed with schizoid-personality disorder
copes with life by “kind of stay[ing] separate from people, * * * [doesn’t]
connect, * * * live[s] [his] life with people but apart from people.”
{¶ 351} Garrett was also diagnosed with unspecified bipolar disorder. Dr.
Reardon testified that bipolar disorders are “disorders where there is a
dysregulation of energy, of thought, of emotion,” and that people who are
diagnosed with bipolar disorder “tend to be very high energy.” During the
pendency of this appeal, the General Assembly enacted 2020 Am.Sub.H.B. 136,
which recognizes that a person who has been diagnosed with a “serious mental
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illness,” R.C. 2929.025(A)(1), is ineligible for a death sentence when the person
raises the issue before trial and proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the
illness “significantly impaired the person’s capacity to exercise rational
judgment,” R.C. 2929.025(A)(1)(b), with respect to either conforming to the law
or appreciating the nature, consequences, or wrongfulness of the person’s
conduct. See R.C. 2929.025(C) through (F). R.C. 2929.025(A)(1)(a)(iii) includes
bipolar disorder as one of the “serious mental illness[es].” Dr. Daniel Martell, the
state’s forensic psychologist, did not dispute that Garrett suffered from bipolar
disorder. He stated that if Garrett did suffer from a bipolar disorder, it was a
disorder that was episodic.
{¶ 352} In State v. Graham, 164 Ohio St.3d 187, 2020-Ohio-6700, 172
N.E.3d 831, ¶ 214, this court recognized that developments in case law increased
the weight to be given to the mitigating factor of a defendant’s mental health.
Here, the majority attempts to distinguish Graham based on the difference in ages
between the defendants (Graham was 19 at the time in which he committed the
offenses and Garrett was 24) and the nature of the offenses. However, such
differences do not diminish the significance of Garrett’s serious mental illness and
how his mental illness affected his decision-making process on January 5, 2018.
And just as Graham did not receive adequate treatment for his mental-health
issues (oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder), id at ¶ 209, there is no
evidence before this court that Garrett received adequate treatment for his mental-
health issues, even though he was diagnosed with having reactive-attachment
disorder in 2007. In light of Graham and the General Assembly’s recognition that
bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness, I would give considerably more
mitigating weight to Garrett’s mental-health issues.
{¶ 353} Moreover, the trial court committed a serious error by not
instructing the jury on Garrett’s lack of a criminal record under R.C.
2929.04(B)(5). Although the trial court gave the jury an instruction on R.C.
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2929.04(B)(3), it failed to give the jury an instruction on R.C. 2929.04(B)(5) even
though Garrett presented mitigating evidence under R.C. 2929.04(B)(3) and (5).
Indeed, it is highly improbable that the jury gave sufficient weight to Garrett’s
lack of a prior criminal record just because the trial court had instructed the jury
on the catchall factor, R.C. 2929.04(B)(7), which allows the jury to consider
“[a]ny other factors that are relevant.” The majority declines to accord great
weight to this factor because of the “ ‘terrifyingly brutal’ ” nature of the offenses.
Majority opinion, ¶ 339, quoting State v. Grant, 67 Ohio St.3d 465, 486, 620
N.E.2d 50 (1993). But because any aggravated murder is, by nature, horrific and
“terrifyingly brutal,” if we accept the majority’s rationale, then any mitigating
evidence that is presented under R.C. 2020.04(B)(5) may be dismissed in virtually
every capital case.
{¶ 354} Garrett’s background is also entitled to more weight than the
majority accords. The evidence in this case demonstrates that Garrett had a
dysfunctional upbringing. Dr. Reardon’s report states that Garrett was subjected
to “severe neglect and abuse * * * during his infancy, childhood, and
adolescence.” Garrett was born to a teenage mother, his biological father spent
time in prison, and Garrett lived much of his early life in a series of foster homes.
Garrett’s infant brother died when Garrett was three-and-a-half years old and his
sister suffered a life-altering brain injury when Garrett was approximately five.
The majority notes that this court has “ ‘seldom ascribed much weight in
mitigation to a defendant’s unstable or troubled childhood.’ ” Majority opinion at
¶ 334, quoting State v. Kirkland, 160 Ohio St.3d 389, 2020-Ohio-4079, 157
N.E.3d 716, ¶ 174. But Garrett’s upbringing presents an exception to what this
court stated in Kirkland, particularly since Garrett seemed to have overcome his
dysfunctional childhood and because his actions on January 5, 2018, were
uncharacteristic of who he had become.
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{¶ 355} Because these mitigating factors are entitled to more weight than
the majority affords them, I conclude that when viewed cumulatively, “the
mitigation evidence militates against imposing the death sentence.” See State v.
Johnson, 144 Ohio St.3d 518, 2015-Ohio-4903, 45 N.E.3d 208, ¶ 139.
DONNELLY and STEWART, JJ., concur in the foregoing opinion.
_________________
G. Gary Tyack, Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney, and Seth L.
Gilbert, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.
Carpenter, Lipps, & Leland, L.L.P., Kort Gatterdam, and Erik P. Henry;
and Timothy Young, Ohio Public Defender, and Melissa Jackson and Erika
LaHote, Assistant Public Defenders, for appellant.
_________________
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