SALEM -- One of Oregon's most notorious killers wants to end appeals to his death sentence in order to donate his organs.
Christian Longo also wants the state to alter its lethal injection protocol to fulfill his wish.
Longo was convicted in 2003 of killing his wife and three children. Their bodies were found in 2001, left in Oregon coastal waterways.
Prosecutors at the time said Longo killed his family in order to live an uninhibited lifestyle. After the murders, he ran to the Mexican resort town of Tulum, where he enjoyed beach life, even wooing a German tourist.
Longo first brought up the subject of organ donation in December of 2009 and a recent essay in the New York Times has again raised the issue.
In addition of admitting his guilt, he describes himself as the founder of a group called Gifts of Anatomical Value From Everyone, or G.A.V.E. The group is also on Facebook.
"I spend 22 hours a day locked in a 6 foot by 8 foot box on Oregon’s death row," he wrote. "There is no way to atone for my crimes, but I believe that a profound benefit to society can come from my circumstances."
He argues that there are 3,000 prisoners on death row in the United States. Through donation, Longo said each can save up to eight lives.
The current procedure used by Oregon and many other states required three types of drugs for death by lethal injection. Those drugs make the organs unfit for transplants.
Longo says a switch to one lethal drug would kill him, but would not taint his system, and still allow donations.
The state has denied Longo's request.
In a letter from last October, the state told Longo the request to drop his death sentence appeals, and changing the lethal injection protocol in order to donate organs, are mutually exclusive.
The letter said the state has no intention of pursuing therequest to change lethal injection protocols.
"The Department has rejected your proposals regarding these issues and considers the matter closed," wrote Michael F. Gower, an assistant director in the Department of Corrections.
