Moments before his execution in Oklahoma a death row inmate delivered his final words, calling his punishment "a mercy" and asking for forgiveness for the crime that led to his death sentence.
Wendell Arden Grissom, a former truck driver with a history of burglary convictions, committed the crime in November 2005, after picking up a homeless hitchhiker, Jessie Johns, USA Today reported. The two had been drinking and discussing committing robberies when they randomly chose a home in Blaine County to break into.
Inside was Amber Dawn Matthews, her friend Dreu Kopf and Kopf's two young children. Grissom shot Kopf multiple times, leaving her severely wounded, and then executed Matthews while she was holding a newborn.
Grissom and Johns were arrested hours later after buying beer. Grissom was convicted in 2008 and sentenced to death, while Johns received life in prison without parole.
On Thursday, Grissom was put to death by lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. He did not seek any last-minute appeals and had previously expressed a willingness to die, telling police at the time of his arrest that he wanted the death penalty.
In his final statement, Grissom asked for forgiveness, acknowledging the pain he had caused but accepting responsibility.
"I consider this a mercy. It's going to be all right," he said. "All I do know is that it was senseless and I was not in any right state of mind... I wish to God it had never happened."
Witnesses included Matthews' father and Kopf, along with her now-adult daughters, who survived the attack as children. Kopf expressed relief that the execution brought closure but said she would never forget the trauma.
