EXECUTION #11

Wayne Tomkins
Executed February 11, 2009 06:32 p.m. EST by Lethal Injection in Florida
11th murderer executed in U.S. in 2009
1147th murderer executed in U.S. since 1976
1st murderer executed in Florida in 2009
67th murderer executed in Florida since 1976

Summary:
In 1983, Tompkins lived with Barbara Wallace and her 15 year old daughter, Lisa Lea DeCarr. Tompkins was assisting Wallace's mother in packing to move and went home several times during the day to obtain newspapers to use in the packing. The defendant returned later in the day, after going home, and reported that Lisa Lea had run away, and he doubted she would ever return. In 1984, her decomposed body was found buried underneath the residence. She had been strangled. Two years later, Tompkins was behind bars on unrelated rape charges and told a jailhouse informant he strangled the girl with her bathrobe sash when she fought off his sexual advances. A friend of the victim came forward and stated that she went to he residence on the day of her disappearance and observed Tompkins on top of the victim, who was struggling and screaming for help.
Final / Special Meal:
He ate a last meal of fried chicken and banana split ice cream, using only the single spoon the state allows.
Final Words:
When asked whether he had a final statement, Tompkins said, "I am good."
The Execution
A brown curtain opened at 6:23 p.m., about 15 minutes later than planned. Witnesses saw Tompkins splayed out on a gurney with a white sheet pulled up to his chin. His tattooed left arm hung out, strapped to the gurney. He was hooked to IVs that would deliver three drugs. The first one would render him unconscious. The next one brings paralysis and stops all breathing. The final drug causes cardiac arrest. He lay perfectly still, except to adjust his chin a couple times. He looked up into a microphone that would broadcast his final statement. He could not see the witnesses and made no effort to look their way. They shifted in their seats and clasped their hands. Men in black-and-gray suits nervously tapped their shiny shoes on the white linoleum floor. An old wall-unit air conditioner strained overhead.
At 6:26 p.m., Tompkins' breathing calmed. The mouth movements stopped. His eyes closed.Three minutes later, Warden Cannon checked to make sure Tompkins was unconscious before ordering the release of the final two drugs. Cannon shook Tompkins and tapped his eyelids twice. Nothing. A couple minutes later, a man with a stethoscope emerged to check Tompkins' pulse. He checked again. He said something to Cannon, and left through the same curtain entrance. Cannon pronounced the execution complete at 6:32 p.m.