(TheConservativeTimes.org) – After 18 years of sitting on death row, Oklahoma executed a convicted child murderer and cannibal, marking the final state-sanctioned execution in the United States for 2024.
The lethal injection took place on Kevin Ray Underwood’s 45th birthday, bringing justice to the family of 10-year-old Jamie Rose Bolin after an 18-year wait.
Underwood’s execution was carried out using Oklahoma’s three-drug lethal injection protocol. The state’s commitment to upholding justice starkly contrasts the wavering stance of the Biden administration on capital punishment.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond remarked on the significance of this execution, stating, “Jamie’s family has waited 18 excruciating years for justice that finally will be carried out when this murderer is executed.”
The gruesome details of Underwood’s crime shocked the nation. He admitted to luring Jamie into his apartment, beating her, suffocating her, and sexually assaulting her with the intention of cannibalizing her body.
“I would like to apologize to the victim’s family, to my own family and to everyone in that room today that had to hear the horrible details of what I did,” Underwood stated.
In spite of the attempts by Underwood’s attorneys to secure clemency based on claims of mental health issues and a history of abuse, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board unanimously rejected these pleas.
This decision reaffirms that mental illness cannot be used as a shield to justify harming innocent children.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s rejection of a last-minute appeal for a stay of execution further solidified the legal system’s commitment to carrying out this sentence.
GA Drummond added, “I am pleased the board voted to deny clemency for this deeply evil monster and ensured that justice will be delivered for Jamie Rose Bolin.”
Moreover, Oklahoma’s steadfast commitment to justice starkly contrasts the current federal administration’s approach.
While Biden has placed a moratorium on the federal death penalty, conservative states like Oklahoma, Texas, and Alabama continue to carry out executions, recognizing their duty to protect society and provide closure for victims’ families.
Lori Pate, Jamie’s sister, witnessed the execution and then thanked the prosecution for its role in the case.
“This doesn’t bring our Jamie back but it does allow the space in our hearts to focus on her and allow the healing process to begin,” she concluded.
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