Tyrone Noling seeks pardon from Ohio Parole Board

Tyrone Noling, an Ohio death row inmate who has spent 30 years in prison, appeared before the Ohio Parole Board to request a full pardon for the 1990 double murder of Bearnhardt and Cora Hartig. Noling maintains his innocence regarding the killings of the elderly couple in Portage County.

Supported by the Ohio Innocence Project, Noling presented evidence including recanted witness testimony, changed stances from a former juror and the sheriff, and information suggesting an already executed individual may have been the perpetrator. The hearing marks the first for an Ohio death row inmate since 2020.

The parole board will now issue a recommendation to Governor Mike DeWine, who holds the final decision-making power. Noling has stated he is seeking full release rather than a commutation to life without parole. The case has gained significant public attention, receiving support from figures such as Kim Kardashian and actors Hilarie Burton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.