Ohio mom says family haunted by daughter’s murder

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP) — The mother of a 14-year-old girl who was raped and stabbed in 1984 says the painful memories never go away, especially as the killer approaches his execution date.

Romell Broom is scheduled to die by lethal injection Tuesday for the death of Tryna Middleton in East Cleveland. Broom was convicted of abducting the girl at knifepoint, raping her and stabbing her seven times.

The victim’s mother, Bessye Middleton, says there isn’t a single day that she doesn’t think about her daughter.

The 53-year-old Broom claims he was targeted by police because of an earlier rape conviction.

The Ohio Supreme Court has rejected his request to present more evidence before the execution.

The state Parole Board also has recommended that Gov. Ted Strickland deny clemency.