Steven Oken
Encyclopedia
Steven Howard Oken was an American
murder
er who was executed in Maryland
by lethal injection
in 2004.
apartment, naked, with a condiment bottle protruding from her vagina
and blood streaming from her forehead. Despite efforts of her father and paramedics to administer CPR
, she was dead. An autopsy
later revealed that she had died as the result of two contact gunshot wounds; one of the bullets entered at her left eyebrow and the other at her right ear.
Less than two weeks after Oken murdered Dawn Garvin, he sexually assaulted
and murdered his sister-in-law, Patricia Hirt, at his White Marsh townhouse, dumping her body along White Marsh Boulevard
. He then fled to Kittery, Maine
, where he murdered Lori Ward, the desk clerk at the motel in which he was staying. He was arrested in Maine on November 17, 1987, and was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life without parole
in Maine for the first-degree murder of Ward. Oken was then returned to Maryland where he faced separate prosecutions for charges arising out of the other two murders.
for the killing of Dawn Garvin on January 18, 1991. Following his conviction for Garvin's murder Oken pled guilty to killing Patricia Hirt, and received an additional life sentence. On June 17, 2004, Steven Oken was executed
by lethal injection
at the Metropolitan Transition Center in Baltimore at age 42. His last meal
was a chicken patty, with potatoes and gravy, green beans, marble cake, milk, and fruit punch – the regular prison meal that day.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
er who was executed in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
by lethal injection
Lethal injection
Lethal injection is the practice of injecting a person with a fatal dose of drugs for the express purpose of causing the immediate death of the subject. The main application for this procedure is capital punishment, but the term may also be applied in a broad sense to euthanasia and suicide...
in 2004.
The crimes
On November 1, 1987, Steven Oken, then 25, murdered Dawn Marie Garvin. She was found by her father on the bed in her White MarshWhite Marsh, Maryland
White Marsh is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 8,485 at the 2000 census.- History :...
apartment, naked, with a condiment bottle protruding from her vagina
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
and blood streaming from her forehead. Despite efforts of her father and paramedics to administer CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure which is performed in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person in cardiac arrest. It is indicated in those who are unresponsive...
, she was dead. An autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
later revealed that she had died as the result of two contact gunshot wounds; one of the bullets entered at her left eyebrow and the other at her right ear.
Less than two weeks after Oken murdered Dawn Garvin, he sexually assaulted
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
and murdered his sister-in-law, Patricia Hirt, at his White Marsh townhouse, dumping her body along White Marsh Boulevard
Maryland Route 43
Maryland Route 43 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as White Marsh Boulevard, the state highway runs from Interstate 695 near Parkville east to MD 150 in Middle River...
. He then fled to Kittery, Maine
Kittery, Maine
Kittery is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,543 at the 2000 census. Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey's Island, Kittery includes Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point, and part of the Isles of Shoals...
, where he murdered Lori Ward, the desk clerk at the motel in which he was staying. He was arrested in Maine on November 17, 1987, and was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life without parole
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
in Maine for the first-degree murder of Ward. Oken was then returned to Maryland where he faced separate prosecutions for charges arising out of the other two murders.
Trial and execution
Oken was found guilty and sentenced to dieCapital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
for the killing of Dawn Garvin on January 18, 1991. Following his conviction for Garvin's murder Oken pled guilty to killing Patricia Hirt, and received an additional life sentence. On June 17, 2004, Steven Oken was executed
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
by lethal injection
Lethal injection
Lethal injection is the practice of injecting a person with a fatal dose of drugs for the express purpose of causing the immediate death of the subject. The main application for this procedure is capital punishment, but the term may also be applied in a broad sense to euthanasia and suicide...
at the Metropolitan Transition Center in Baltimore at age 42. His last meal
Last meal
The last meal is a customary part of a condemned prisoner's last day. Often, the day of, or before, the appointed time of execution, the prisoner receives a last meal, as well as religious rites, if they desire. In the United States, inmates generally may not ask for an alcoholic drink...
was a chicken patty, with potatoes and gravy, green beans, marble cake, milk, and fruit punch – the regular prison meal that day.