President Biden Commutes Death Sentences of Two Illinois Men
President Joe Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 individuals on Monday, including two men from Illinois: Ronald Mikos and Jorge Avila Torrez. This action aligns with the Biden administration’s moratorium on federal executions, excluding cases involving terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. The decision sparked both praise and criticism, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding capital punishment.
Ronald Mikos, a 76-year-old podiatrist, was convicted in 2005 of murdering Joyce Brannon, a former patient and Medicare fraud witness. Prosecutors argued that Mikos shot Brannon six times at point-blank range to prevent her from testifying against him in a Medicare fraud case involving $1.8 million in fraudulent billings. Mikos, the last person sentenced to death in Illinois, maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. His attorneys cited his advanced age, deteriorating neurological condition, and other serious health issues in their plea for clemency. They expressed gratitude for President Biden’s decision, describing it as an act of mercy that offers Mikos “peace and dignity in the final years of his life.” While Mikos’ attorneys presented evidence suggesting possible involvement of others in Brannon’s death, the jury found him guilty, recommending the death penalty despite psychiatric testimony detailing Mikos’s severe mental health problems. Brannon’s sister, Janet Bunch, expressed her opposition to the commutation, emphasizing the premeditated nature of the murder and Mikos’s lack of remorse. Mikos continues to challenge his conviction, with a status hearing scheduled for February 19th.
Jorge Avila Torrez, a former Marine, received a separate commutation. He was sentenced to death for the 2009 strangulation of Naval Officer Amanda Snell in Virginia. Torrez later pleaded guilty to the 2005 murders of eight-year-old Laura Hobbs and nine-year-old Krystal Tobias in Zion, Illinois. He was linked to the Zion murders through DNA evidence collected after his arrest in Virginia. The case initially implicated the father of one of the victims, Jerry Hobbs, who spent five years in jail before charges were dropped following the DNA match to Torrez.
President Biden’s statement emphasized his commitment to halting federal executions, contrasting his stance with that of his predecessor, President Trump, a vocal supporter of expanding capital punishment. The commutations highlight the complex ethical and legal considerations surrounding capital punishment in the United States.