Indiana’s top executive, Governor Mike Braun, has decided not to order the additional brain imaging that defense attorneys sought for death‑row inmate Jeffrey Weisheit. The decision means the state’s scheduled execution on the morning of November 5 will go forward as planned.
Request for scans rejected
Weisheit’s counsel, Joseph Perkovich, asked the state to transport his client to Franciscan Health in Michigan City for MRI and PET scans. The scans were to be reviewed by University of Pennsylvania neuropsychologist Dr. Ruben Gur, who could determine whether Weisheit suffered any brain injuries before the 2010 murders of 8‑year‑old Alyssa Lynch and her 5‑year‑old brother, Caleb.
Indiana psychiatrist R. Andrew Chambers also supported the request, noting that modern imaging could help separate any prior injuries from a head wound Weisweis sustained during his arrest. The defense argues that such evidence could be material to Governor Braun’s clemency decision, claiming jurors lacked reliable scientific data about Weisheit’s neurological condition at trial.
Governor’s office explains its stance
Governor Braun’s general counsel, Stephanie Flittner, met with Weisheit’s legal team on Wednesday and explained that the administration has declined to authorize the scans. The governor’s office emphasized that the existing record already provides sufficient information for a clemency review and that the request would delay a lawful execution without clear benefit.
“Our responsibility is to uphold the law and the sentencing imposed by a jury after a full and fair trial,” the office said. “We will consider all relevant facts already on file, but we cannot extend the process based on speculative medical testing.”
Clemency petition and parole board recommendation
The Indiana Parole Board unanimously recommended that Governor Braun reject Weisheit’s request for a commutation to life imprisonment. While the board’s recommendation is not binding, it underscores the administration’s view that the death sentence remains appropriate.
Governor Braun has not yet announced his final decision on the clemency petition, but the refusal to order the scans signals that he is unlikely to grant a reprieve.
Execution logistics and drug supply concerns
Weisheit, 50, is scheduled for execution at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City before sunrise on November 5. The state’s Department of Correction recently released an invoice for $275,000 in execution drugs, though it has not provided an updated inventory confirming receipt. Earlier records indicated that no pentobarbital remained after the October 2025 execution.
A separate informal request for a temporary reprieve is pending before Governor Braun. That request raises questions about Indiana’s lethal‑injection procedures, but a reprieve would only delay the execution without overturning the death sentence.
What this means for Indiana residents
The governor’s decision reflects a commitment to enforce the law while respecting the judicial process. Indiana families who have long awaited closure can anticipate that the state will move forward with the scheduled execution, while advocates for additional medical evidence will need to seek other avenues for reform.
As the execution date approaches, the Braun administration remains focused on ensuring that the process proceeds according to established legal standards and without unnecessary delays.
Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.
