13ABC News Interview With A Convicted Killer View Video [Opens In New Window] July 31, 2006 WTVG-- John Spirko is sitting on Ohio's death row for killing Elgin postal worker Betty Jane Mottinger 24 years ago. Retired postal inspector Paul Hartman says there's no doubt: John Spirko abducted and murdered Elgin postmistress Betty Jane Mottinger. Spirko says he lied his way on to death row, telling inspector Hartman he had information about the case. He thought he could strike a deal to keep his girlfriend out of jail. But Hartman says after a series of lengthy interviews, Spirko confessed saying, "Lay it all on me; I killed her." But Spirko and his defense attorneys are raising some doubts that the state is taking seriously. The state has granted the Toledo native four reprieves and has agreed to do DNA tests on evidence from the scene. To date, no physical evidence has tied Spirko to the crime. Hartman believes this is all a delay tactic. "If his DNA, the defendant's DNA, is not found, it proves nothing. It does not prove his innocence. It does prove that either he did not leave his DNA or it was so degraded it cannot be identified." After all. it's been 24 years. Webmaster Note: Hey Hartman, If John's DNA is NOT there but other DNA is there, does that mean that only John's DNA has been degraded? That would be very convenient for you, wouldn't it? But the defense isn't relying on DNA alone. They and some members of law enforcement are attacking Hartman's investigative methods. Hartman did not record any of his interviews with Spirko. He didn't have Spirko sign a confession, nor did he include the confession in his handwritten notes. And there's the question of Spirko's former cellmate. Much of the state's case centered on Delaney Gibson, who also was indicted for the crime. The state's star witness testified that Gibson was outside the post office that morning. Later investigators determined Gibson was hundreds of miles away and he didn't look like the suspect illustrated in a police sketch. There's also speculation that investigators had this information before the case went to trial. Webmaster Note: There is no speculation. It has been proven they had it & withheld it. Hartman says Spirko not only confessed, he relayed specific details about the crime. Spirko says those stories came from newspaper reports or Hartman told him. The state is conducting DNA tests on several cigarette butts found at the scene and the tarp that shrouded the victim's body. A new execution date has been set for John Spirko: November 29th. Email: Tracy Spirko, John Spirko's Wife