Ohio youth sentenced to death for killing teen

LEBANON, Ohio (AP) — A southwest Ohio judge has sentenced a 19-year-old man to death for the slaying of an 18-year-old U.S. Navy recruit.

Judge Donald Oda of Warren County Common Pleas Court today followed the jury’s recommendation for Austin Myers, to make him the youngest inmate on Ohio’s death row. He’s about five years younger than the next-youngest person awaiting execution.

Myers was convicted of aggravated murder for the death of Justin Back, who was about to enter the Navy. Back was killed in a burglary and his body dumped in a rural county. Another youth involved will face life in prison after prosecutors dropped death penalty specifications in exchange for his testimony against Myers.

Myers had urged that his life be spared for his family’s sake.