Posted on 05/26/2004 7:55:55 PM PDT by nuconvert
Florida Inmate Who Wanted State to Kill Him Is Executed
By Ron Word/Associated Press
Associated Press Writer
May 26, 2004 STARKE, Fla. (AP) - A man who said he killed a fellow prison inmate so the state of Florida would give him the death penalty was executed Wednesday. John Blackwelder, 49, received an injection of chemicals at Florida State Prison, a spokesman for Gov. Jeb Bush said.
Blackwelder was convicted in the May 2000 strangling of Raymond Wigley, 39, who was serving a life term for murder.
At the time, Blackwelder faced life without parole for a series of sex convictions. He said he killed Wigley and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder because he wanted to die but couldn't bring himself to commit suicide.
"I'm glad I get to go home," Blackwelder said after being strapped to his gurney. "I'm proud to be a Christian, and I thank Jesus for saving me and allowing me to go home. Amen."
Blackwelder's execution was delayed 24 hours after a prison inmate said he'd heard a second-hand claim that another inmate had confessed to Wigley's killing.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement used DNA evidence to disprove the claim, Bush said.
"I felt in an abundance of caution that there should be extra work done, which was done overnight," he said.
Blackwelder said he lured Wigley into his cell at Columbia Correctional Institution with the promise of a sex act, then tied him to the bed and killed him as Wigley begged for mercy.
He claimed he was innocent of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy.
Blackwelder was the second inmate to be executed in Florida this year and the 59th since the state resumed executions in 1979.
Six of the last 10 executions in Florida were of inmates who, like Blackwelder, dropped appeals to speed their deaths.
Betcha he's in for the biggest surprise of his afterlife. (News flash, ex-human, your next home is unbearably hot).
He killed a convicted murderer and was then executed himself. All in all, a rather productive outcome.
hmm guess no problems here
That's weird
How would you know. If he accepted grace, then he is right and what he did in the world does not matter, if not, you are right.
Don't be fooled by the replies.. The Lord will offer grace, especially to those who do not seem to be worthy.. The blameless need not be forgiven, the unrighteousness know the true meaning of forgiveness. The Lord also eschews those who take glory in their brothers pain and suffering... Take a look at the judgement of Edom. As sure as the thief on the cross with Christ, the truly repentant will join him in Heaven.
Hmmm...
How about...
'Croque Monsieur?'
But the evidence that he did this murder with premeditation to get grace seems to indicate that his heart wasn't really changed. The chances are,,he's going to burn. And we are allowed to speculate about that.
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