Romell Broom

Romell Broom became part of the modern history of problematic American executions because of what happened in Ohio on September 15, 2009. The case is included in the Death Penalty Information Center’s compilation of well-known botched or failed executions.

The execution case

Execution personnel repeatedly tried to establish a usable IV line in Broom’s arms and legs. After more than two hours, Governor Ted Strickland ordered the attempt stopped. Broom later died on Ohio death row in 2020.

Outcome

Romell Broom survived the attempt; Ohio stopped the execution after more than two hours of unsuccessful IV-access efforts. That outcome places the case in the same historical network as other American execution failures, including Romell Broom, Doyle Hamm, Clayton Lockett, Joseph Wood, Willie Francis and, in 2026, Christa Pike.

Why this profile matters

This distinction is especially useful for cases such as Romell Broom, where public interest often centers on the execution itself rather than only on the original conviction.

Sources

– Death Penalty Information Center — Botched Executions (case entry for Romell Broom)