Idaho Death Row Inmate Given Execution Date

A 7th District Judge has scheduled death row inmate Paul Ezra Rhoades to be executed next month. Rhoades, who was convicted of killing three people in Idaho Falls and Blackfoot in 1988, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on November 18th. Seventh District Judge Jon Shindurling issued the death warrants yesterday. Rhoades was given two death sentences for the sexual assault and murder of Idaho Falls teacher 34 year old Susan Michelbacher whose body was found in March 1987. He also was given two death sentences for the first-degree murder and kidnapping of 24 year old Stacy Dawn Baldwin a Blackfoot convenience store clerk who was shot to death in February 1987. He is currently serving a life sentence as well. He plead guilty to the March 1987 shooting death of Nolan Haddon, a Blackfoot man who worked at an Idaho Falls convenience store. Rhoades still has legal avenues to possibly prevent an execution. He has filed a federal lawsuit against the state, saying Idaho's method of lethal injection amounts to cruel and unusual punishment and that problems with the lethal injection system would render his execution unconstitutional.