Ohio officials say condemned killer who survived overdose took prescribed pills

Officials: Condemned Ohioan took prescribed pills

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Officials say a condemned Ohio inmate who intentionally overdosed on pills hours before his scheduled execution took medication prescribed to him.

Prison system spokeswoman Julie Walburn said Tuesday that 43-year-old Lawrence Reynolds Jr. admitted taking an overdose.

The type of drug and why it was prescribed aren’t being disclosed. How he accumulated the pills is under investigation.

Authorities say he is improving at a Youngstown hospital after he was found unconscious in his death row cell Sunday night at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown.

He was under surveillance that’s routine for inmates approaching their hour of execution.

Reynolds killed his neighbor near Akron in 1994. His execution had been scheduled for Tuesday but is now delayed for a week.