Convicted murderer awaits execution today

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. -- A convicted triple murderer awaiting a scheduled execution early Friday at the Indiana State Prison spent his final full day in prison visiting with family members.\nBarring a last-minute stay by the U.S. Supreme Court, Kevin Hough, 43, was scheduled to die by injection shortly after midnight for the 1985 murders of Martin Rubrake, 56, and his longtime roommate, Theodore Bosler, 49, during a robbery at their Fort Wayne home.\nHough also was convicted of murdering a Polish immigrant, Antonio Barkowiak, 11 days earlier.\nAt least three family members visited with Hough on Thursday as he awaited word from the U.S. Supreme Court on his appeal. Lawyers for Hough argued he was improperly sentenced to death because the jury failed to list what aggravating factors it found in deciding to recommend the death sentence.\nOn Wednesday, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago rejected a similar argument. Also Wednesday, Gov. Frank O'Bannon denied clemency for Hough, saying his legal proceedings were fundamentally fair.\nAccording to testimony at Hough's trial, Rubrake and Bosler were holding some belongings of Hough's cousin, who owed them money for a room he rented from them. Hough went to the home on Nov. 6, 1985, to get the belongings.\nHough pulled a gun on the men and ordered them to get down on the floor. Hough's half-brother, Duane Lapp, testified Rubrake threw a remote control at Hough and Hough shot him. Bosler got on the floor, but Hough still shot Bosler in the back, Lapp testified. As the men got ready to leave, Hough shot Rubrake in the head.\nHough would be the 10th person put to death by the state of Indiana since Indiana resumed executions in 1981 and the 82nd overall.