OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- An Oklahoma man convicted of the heinous rape and murder of a young girl has been executed in a state prison.
Kevin Ray Underwood was pronounced dead at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary on Friday, following a lethal injection, according to the Associated Press. Underwood, 45, had been sentenced to death for the 2006 killing of 10-year old Jamie Rose Bolin. Underwood confessed to luring the child into his residence- before stranging her and sexually assaulting her.
Underwood told authorities that the killing was carried out to fulfill his own cannibalistic fantasies, and had been incarcerated since the crime was carried out.
Underwood and his family members sought clemency from Oklahoma's Pardon and Parole Board- with the offender expressing remorse for his crime, while expressing his preference that his life be spared. The convicted murderer grew emotional during the hearing.
"Although I do not want to die, I recognize that I deserve to for what I did."
Further entreaties by Underwood's attorneys to the United States Supreme Court hoping to postpone his execution were also unsuccessful. Underwood argued that his death sentence amounted to cruel and unusual punishment on the basis of his own mental illnesses after his conviction, with prosecutors pointing to his act of violence as one uncharacteristic of other people with mental health diagnoses.
Relatives of Bolin also spoke during the hearing, with the victim's father becoming too emotional to continue speaking during his appearance. Relatives of Bolin did not support Underwood's bid to avoid execution, pointing to a lifetime of experiences denied to Bolin as a result of his actions.
Underwood's request for clemency was denied by the board, which declined to overturn the decision of the jury for his execution for the 2006 murder.
In Underwood's final remarks, he expressed remorse for his crime, while stating his belief that the state of Oklahoma's decision to execute him on his own 45th birthday- and six days before Christmas- was needlessly cruel.
Kevin Ray Underwood was pronounced dead at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary on Friday, following a lethal injection, according to the Associated Press. Underwood, 45, had been sentenced to death for the 2006 killing of 10-year old Jamie Rose Bolin. Underwood confessed to luring the child into his residence- before stranging her and sexually assaulting her.
Underwood told authorities that the killing was carried out to fulfill his own cannibalistic fantasies, and had been incarcerated since the crime was carried out.
Underwood and his family members sought clemency from Oklahoma's Pardon and Parole Board- with the offender expressing remorse for his crime, while expressing his preference that his life be spared. The convicted murderer grew emotional during the hearing.
"Although I do not want to die, I recognize that I deserve to for what I did."
Further entreaties by Underwood's attorneys to the United States Supreme Court hoping to postpone his execution were also unsuccessful. Underwood argued that his death sentence amounted to cruel and unusual punishment on the basis of his own mental illnesses after his conviction, with prosecutors pointing to his act of violence as one uncharacteristic of other people with mental health diagnoses.
Relatives of Bolin also spoke during the hearing, with the victim's father becoming too emotional to continue speaking during his appearance. Relatives of Bolin did not support Underwood's bid to avoid execution, pointing to a lifetime of experiences denied to Bolin as a result of his actions.
Underwood's request for clemency was denied by the board, which declined to overturn the decision of the jury for his execution for the 2006 murder.
In Underwood's final remarks, he expressed remorse for his crime, while stating his belief that the state of Oklahoma's decision to execute him on his own 45th birthday- and six days before Christmas- was needlessly cruel.
“The decision to execute me on my birthday and six days before Christmas was a needlessly cruel thing to do to my family. But I’m very sorry for what I did and I wish I could take it back."
A sister of Bolin, Lori Pate, pointed to the event as one that would facilitate healing on behalf of her family, while emphasizing that the innocent child could never be restored to her loved ones.
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