A man in Ohio who fatally shot his roommate almost 40 years ago and ate part of his brain is under review for parole.
David Allen Chapin, 60, is currently serving a life sentence at the Allen Correction Institution in Lima, Ohio, according to state records. He has been denied parole at least six times, a spokesperson from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction told NBC Chicago.
Chapin shot his roommate Donald Liming in Milford, Ohio, on Oct. 3, 1978, The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. The pair, who had been friends since childhood, had been arguing about religion; Chapin was a Baptist and Liming said he was a Catholic, a Buddhist, as well as a pagan, according to the publication.
Chapin put Liming’s body into the trunk of his Buick Skylark and drove to a community college he was attending, the Enquirer reported, citing archives. While in biology class, Chapin asked the professor if he needed a corpse to dissect.
During the course of his murder trial in Clermont County, Chapin explained to a court-ordered psychiatrist that he devoured part of Liming’s brain as part of a "mutual agreement" between the roommates, according to the Enquirer.
The Ohio Parole Board conducted a closed release consideration hearing on Feb. 1, and the case was referred to the Central Office Board Review, according to JoEllen Smith of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. A decision is pending.
The case has now been moved to the Central Office Board Review for consideration, which will review his case history and the public’s opinion before they make a recommendation, according to Smith.
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Additionally, a public hearing could be scheduled where Liming’s family and the Clermont County Prosecutor would oppose Liming’s release, according to the Enquirer.
