[2] Ultimately, his conviction was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court and Governor John Kasich of Ohio rejected his bids for clemency.

[5] Since the execution of Van Hook, there has been an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment in the state, as a result of the unavailability of the drugs needed to carry out lethal injection.

He then stabbed Self to death with a knife that he took from the kitchen, ransacked the apartment, stole some jewelry, mutilated Self's body, and fled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

At his trial, Van Hook pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and chose to have his case heard by a three-judge panel instead of a jury.

[10] Van Hook's case garnered national attention when his defense team claimed "homosexual panic" may have prompted the killing.

His last meal consisted of double cheeseburgers, fries, strawberry cheesecake with whipped cream, a vanilla milkshake, and grapefruit juice.

In his final statement he apologized to the family of Self and recited an adapted Norse prayer which appeared in the movie The 13th Warrior.

[11] Van Hook was executed via lethal injection using a combination of three drugs; midazolam, rocuronium bromide and potassium chloride.

In January 2019, a federal judge ruled that Ohio's execution protocol could cause inmates severe pain and needless suffering.