US executes 2nd inmate this week after 17-year hiatus

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US federal government on Thursday put to death a second inmate this week following a nearly two-decade halt in administering the death penalty.

Wesley Ira Purkey, 68, was executed via lethal injection at Indiana's Terre Haute prison. He was sentenced to death after being convicted of the violent murder and rape of a 16-year-old girl, as well as the dismemberment, burning and dumping of her remains. He was also found guilty in a state court of the bludgeoning to death of an 80 year-old woman.

"After many years of litigation following the death of his victims, in which he lived and was afforded every due process of law under our Constitution, Purkey has finally faced justice," Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said in a statement.

In his final words, Purkey reportedly said, "I deeply regret the pain and suffering I caused to Jennifer's family. I am deeply sorry. I deeply regret the pain I caused to my daughter, who I love so very much."

"This sanitized murder really does not serve no purpose whatsoever," he added.

The Supreme Court cleared the way for Purkey's execution in a 5-4 one-sentence order issued early Thursday morning that vacated lower court orders temporary blocking Purkey's execution.

As with the decision earlier this week that opened the door to the first federal execution in 17 years, the panel's conservative majority stood unison in allowing the federal government to carry out the death penalty while all four liberal justices dissented.

On Tuesday, the federal government put to death Daniel Lewis Lee in Terre Haute after the top court rejected arguments to delay his execution.

Prior to this week the last federal execution took place in 2003. A third inmate is slated to be executed via lethal injection on Friday.