Board rejects mercy for convicted Ohio killer citing abuse, mental illness

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Parole Board on Friday recommended against mercy for a death row inmate whose attorneys cite a history of physical and emotional abuse and untreated mental illness that led to him killing a man he picked up at a bar more than 30 years ago.The board's 8-1 decision came in the case of death row inmate Robert Van Hook, sentenced to die for fatally strangling and stabbing David Self in Cincinnati in 1985. Van Hook fled to Florida, where he was arrested and confessed.T