[3] In 1979, Earls, who was a police informant, had helped convict Zuern's father of drug trafficking.

[5] While awaiting trial for the murder of Earls, Zuern had a conversation with another inmate about corrections officers' failures to give him his full five minutes of telephone time.

[6][7][8] At approximately 10:20 p.m., Officers Joe Burton and Phillip Pence arrived to perform the search and found Zuern lying naked in his bunk.

Pence unlocked the cell and told Zuern to come out and put his hands against the wall.

[13] In November 1984, Zuern pleaded guilty to aggravated murder in the shooting of Gregory Earls.

[15] The prisoners demanded that they receive free deodorant, access to televisions and radios, more desserts, and transfers to the Franklin County Jail.

[16][17] In June 1986, Zuern and his accomplices were tried for kidnapping charges in relation to the hostage-taking, however, a jury was unable to reach a verdict.

Afterward, the prosecutor struck a deal with the inmates and said if they agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of abduction that they would be treated to a gourmet dinner.

[22] On June 8, 2004, Zuern was executed via lethal injection at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, one day prior to the 20th anniversary of Pence's murder.

[25][26] His last meal consisted of mashed potatoes with gravy, lasagna, macaroni and cheese, garlic bread, cherry cheesecake, chocolate milk, hot sauce, and salt.