AG Requests Execution Date For Ottawa County Murderer

Russell Hulstine, NewsOn6.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has filed a request for the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals to set an execution date for a death row inmate from Ottawa County. 

The U.S. Supreme Court denied Gary Roland Welch's final appeal on October 3, 2011.

Welch, 49, was sentenced to death for first-degree murder in the killing of Robert Dean Hardcastle, 52, on August 25, 1994.

Hardcastle died after being stabbed numerous times during an altercation with Welch that took place inside and outside Hardcastle's home.

"Gary Welch has exhausted all of his appeals in a court of law," Scott Pruitt said. "After a thorough review of this case, my office has found nothing contradictory, and the execution of Gary Roland Welch should be carried out."

Pruitt is asking the court to set the date as early as possible.