Braun denies clemency for child killer

Indiana Governor Eric Braun denied clemency for Jeffrey Weisheit on Monday afternoon.

Weisheit, a convicted child killer, is scheduled for lethal injection before dawn on Thursday, November 5, 2026. He faces execution for the 2010 murders of 8-year-old Alyssa Lynch and 5-year-old Caleb Lynch in a Vanderburgh County arson.

Legal counsel for Weisheit filed a request on Monday to pause the execution. They argued that the state purchased the lethal injection drug pentobarbitol from Pharmaneek. The Indiana Board of Pharmacy placed Pharmaneek on indefinite probation on March 31. The board cited failing safety inspections and unprofessional practices that led to drug contamination.

A hearing set for November 9 will determine if Pharmaneek’s license gets terminated. The defense team stated that the drugs should come from reputable sources rather than a pharmacy the Attorney General’s Office seeks to close. They asked for an independent investigation into the quality and procurement of the drugs.

Joe Perkovich, one of Weisheit’s attorneys, said in a release that it is alarming for the state to buy drugs from a pharmacy it is trying to shut down due to major storage and management issues. Perkovich urged the governor to pause executions and investigate the provider to ensure the drugs meet legal standards.

Just after 4 p.m. on Monday, Braun announced his decision. He said he accepted the Parole Board’s unanimous recommendation to deny clemency. Braun noted that the Indiana Department of Correction will continue preparations to carry out the court-ordered sentence on November 5, 2026.

The Department of Correction stated in a written comment that it is in compliance with Indiana laws governing the confidential procurement of execution drugs. The department expressed confidence in its process and its ability to humanely carry out the lawfully imposed sentence for the murders of two innocent children.