EXECUTION #31

Daniel E. Wilson
Executed June 3, 2009 10:33 a.m. by Lethal Injection in Ohio
31st murderer executed in U.S. in 2009
1167th murderer executed in U.S. since 1976
1st murderer executed in Ohio in 2009
29th murderer executed in Ohio since 1976
Summary:
Wilson killed Carol Lutz after she drove him home from a bar in Elyria. Somehow — Wilson said he didn't know how — Lutz ended up in the trunk of her black Oldsmobile Cutlass after they left the bar and went to Wilson's house. Wilson let Lutz out briefly after she begged to use the restroom, but forced her back into the trunk even though she promised to forget the ordeal if he ran away. Wilson then set the punctured gas tank on fire and walked off while Lutz burned to death. Wilson claimed he was too intoxicated to remember all the details, but told police he remembered that much.
Final/Special Meal:
A well-done porter house steak with steak sauce, a baked potato with sour cream and bacon bits, salad with lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, green peppers, carrots and French dressing, corn on the cob with butter, grapes, macaroni and cheese, dinner rolls and Cool Ranch Doritos with a jar of salsa, strawberry ice cream and strawberry cheesecake--both with real strawberries, a 2-liter of Dr. Pepper with ice and one tea bag.
Final Words:
"I want to say to the Lutz family that I'm very sorry for what I did to Carol. I want to say to my family that I'm sorry for how things turned out. I love you. I believe in Jesus. He's my Lord and Savior. I'm going home. . ."
The Execution
Shortly after 10 a.m., a closed-circuit monitor flickered on, displaying a bird's-eye view of prison medical technicians preparing Wilson for execution. Wilson remained motionless on the gurney for nearly 15 minutes, even as techs struggled to place a shunt in his right arm, saturating a paper towel with blood that oozed from the inmate's punctured vein. Wilson entered the death chamber at 10:16 a.m. and calmly climbed onto the gurney. As officers strapped down his shunted arms, Wilson raised his head to see his two cousins, an attorney and the Rev. Neil Kookoothe, his spiritual adviser, gathered on the other side of the glass.
Kookoothe raised a hand to comfort Wilson. Wilson's eyes fluttered closed, as a dose of the sedative sodium pentothal took hold. His chest and stomach heaved several times and his breathing became erratic, then gradually more shallow with each inhalation.
Prison Warden Phillip Kerns called Wilson's name and pinched his arm -- part of the prison's new procedure to test for unconsciousness before administering the final two drugs that stop breathing and heartbeat. The lethal chemicals that followed -- pancuronium bromide to seize the lungs and potassium chloride to stop the heartbeat -- overtook Wilson quietly. He died at 10:33 a.m.