You Won’t Believe This Killers Last Words Before His Execution
The day of an execution is always intense. The inmate is given a decadent last meal of their choosing, they are offered a prayer with a chaplain and finally, they are offered their last words before being executed - which is commonly an apology or declaration of innocence.
Michael Dewayne Smith, on the other hand, shrugged off his option to deliver his last words with a quite nonchalant phrase. We will get to that in a minute.
The 41-year-old Oklahoma death row inmate was found guilty in the murder of mother Janet Moore and store clerk Sharath Pulluru in February of 2002. Police said Smith was already on the run from a prior killing. Despite his initial confession to the crimes, Smith later rescinded, claiming he didn’t kill the two and didn’t even remember being arrested because he was “high on drugs,” per USA TODAY.
In an appeal to the Supreme Court, he argued to overturn his conviction based on substance abuse issues and an intellectual disability. The Court wasn’t buying it. His latest plea for clemency to the state’s Pardon and Parole Board in March also fell flat.
“Michael Smith’s outrageous claims of innocence have been repeatedly rejected in court,” Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a statement. “He is a ruthless killer who has confessed to his crimes on multiple occasions. There is no doubt in my mind that his request for clemency should be denied.”
Smith’s third appeal requesting an emergency stay of execution was rejected and his execution remained scheduled for April 4.
What was his last words? “Nah, I’m good,” he said according to media witnesses.
Smith met with a spiritual advisor who read him the Bible in the execution room, per USA TODAY. Moore’s family members were present at the execution, according to The New York Post. They recalled seeing Smith shaking as he struggled to lift his head as the lethal cocktail was being administered. His spiritual advisor told reporters Smith cried until his last breath.
He was pronounced dead at 10:20 a.m. at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.
