COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the death sentences of a Cuyahoga County man convicted of murdering the teenage children of his girlfriend.
In a 4-3 decision, the court ruled that the death penalties were appropriate for Matthew Nicholson, who fatally shot 19-year-old Giselle Lopez and her 17-year-old brother, identified as “M.L.” in court records, in 2018.
Nicholson claimed he “snapped” after a violent argument with the teens’ mother, America Polanco, with whom he lived. However, the court, in a majority opinion written by Justice Patrick F. Fischer, emphasized the aggravating circumstances of the murders, including the killing of two unarmed teenagers in front of their mother.
While acknowledging Nicholson’s claims of a difficult upbringing, the court ruled that the severity of the crimes outweighed any mitigating factors. Justices R. Patrick DeWine and Joseph T. Deters joined Justice Fischer’s opinion.
Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy concurred with the majority judgment but expressed disagreement on certain aspects, including the use of victim-impact testimony and the characterization of Nicholson’s defense.
Justices Jennifer Brunner, Melody Stewart, and Michael P. Donnelly dissented, arguing against the death penalty in this case. Justices Brunner and Stewart believed the aggravating factors did not warrant the ultimate punishment, while Justice Donnelly raised concerns about potential geographic bias, suggesting Cuyahoga County may impose death sentences at a disproportionate rate.
Nicholson’s case underwent extensive legal review before reaching the Supreme Court, which automatically considers appeals in death penalty cases. The court’s decision upholds the trial court’s imposition of the death penalty.
The fatal shootings stemmed from a heated argument between Nicholson and Polanco. Despite claims of self-defense and blackout, the court found overwhelming evidence supporting Nicholson’s guilt and premeditation in the murders.