United States executes second man in a week

The United States carried out its second federal execution, three days after its first, that carried out after an interval of 17 years. Kansas man Wesley Ira Purkey was put to death by lethal injection, on Thursday at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, Associated Press reported.

Purkey was sentenced to be executed for kidnapping, killing and dismembering a 16-year-old girl, Jennifer Long in 1998. He burnt her body before dumping her in a septic tank. He was also convicted of killing an 80-year old woman, who had polio.

In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court cleared the way for the execution just hours before it was carried out.

When asked for his final statement, Purkey said he deeply regretted the pain and suffering he caused to Jennifer’s family. He also expressed remorse for his own daughter’s suffering from his actions. “I deeply regret the pain I caused to my daughter, who I love so very much,” he said.

At the end, he spoke against his execution. His last words were: “This sanitized murder really does not serve no purpose whatsoever. Thank you.”

Long’s father and stepmother were present at the execution. During the trial, Purkey’s lawyers said that he had dementia and that his mental health had deteriorated significantly.

They said he was repeatedly sexually assaulted as a child and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions.

His execution was carried out three days after Daniel Lewis Lee was put to death on July 14. This was the first federal execution to be carried out in the US after 17 years.