CHICAGO (AP) — Roy Lee Ward, a man convicted in the 2001 rape and murder of a teenage girl, was executed by injection early Friday in Indiana, marking the state’s third execution following the resumption of capital punishment last year.
Ward, aged 53, was executed at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City for his heinous act against 15-year-old Stacy Payne, who was brutally attacked in her family’s home. This crime sent shockwaves through the small community located about 30 miles east of Evansville.
After exhausting all his legal options over more than two decades, Ward's attorney, Joanna Green, stated just days before the execution that he expressed deep remorse for his actions.
The execution raised questions about Indiana’s handling of the sedative pentobarbital used in lethal injections. According to the Indiana Department of Correction, they had secured enough of the drug to follow protocol for the execution despite previous concerns about its storage and handling.
Among 27 states that have death penalty statutes, Indiana stands out as one of two states that prohibit media witnesses during executions, with Ward’s selected witnesses comprising attorneys and spiritual aides.
Ward was sentenced to death in 2002, and although his conviction was overturned, he later pleaded guilty in 2007. His case continued through the courts for many years, and after a clemency bid was rejected by both the Indiana Supreme Court and Governor Mike Braun, the execution proceeded as planned.
The victim’s family recounted the emotional toll of losing their daughter, describing the ongoing void in their family gatherings and holidays. Julie Wininger, Stacy's mother, poignantly expressed the pain, stating: “Our family gatherings are no longer whole... Our family has endured emotional devastation.”
Despite being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, which hindered his communication, Ward acknowledged the gravity of his crime, as highlighted by Deacon Brian Nosbusch, one of his spiritual advisors, who stated, “He knows he did it. He knows it was horrendous.”
Ward, aged 53, was executed at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City for his heinous act against 15-year-old Stacy Payne, who was brutally attacked in her family’s home. This crime sent shockwaves through the small community located about 30 miles east of Evansville.
After exhausting all his legal options over more than two decades, Ward's attorney, Joanna Green, stated just days before the execution that he expressed deep remorse for his actions.
The execution raised questions about Indiana’s handling of the sedative pentobarbital used in lethal injections. According to the Indiana Department of Correction, they had secured enough of the drug to follow protocol for the execution despite previous concerns about its storage and handling.
Among 27 states that have death penalty statutes, Indiana stands out as one of two states that prohibit media witnesses during executions, with Ward’s selected witnesses comprising attorneys and spiritual aides.
Ward was sentenced to death in 2002, and although his conviction was overturned, he later pleaded guilty in 2007. His case continued through the courts for many years, and after a clemency bid was rejected by both the Indiana Supreme Court and Governor Mike Braun, the execution proceeded as planned.
The victim’s family recounted the emotional toll of losing their daughter, describing the ongoing void in their family gatherings and holidays. Julie Wininger, Stacy's mother, poignantly expressed the pain, stating: “Our family gatherings are no longer whole... Our family has endured emotional devastation.”
Despite being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, which hindered his communication, Ward acknowledged the gravity of his crime, as highlighted by Deacon Brian Nosbusch, one of his spiritual advisors, who stated, “He knows he did it. He knows it was horrendous.”
