Casey A. McWhorter, who spent most of his adult life on death row in Alabama, was executed on Thursday night. McWhorter, 49, was convicted of capital murder in 1994 for his involvement in a 1993 robbery and homicide in Marshall County. He was sentenced to death row at the age of 19, just three months after the murder took place.
The execution took place at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, where the media witness room opened at 6:30 p.m. McWhorter was lying on a bed covered by a white sheet, with restraints on his body. Two IV lines were inserted into his arms. Warden Terry Raybon read the death warrant and the governor’s order of execution, and McWhorter was given the opportunity to say his last words.
McWhorter expressed his love for his mother and family, and apologized to the victim’s family, hoping they would find peace. He also made a comment about the person conducting the procedure being a habitual abuser of women. At 6:33 p.m., McWhorter closed his eyes, and a minute later, he began moving his legs and fingers. His spiritual advisor approached him, and at 6:37 p.m., McWhorter raised his head, appeared to gasp, and his eyes rolled back. By 6:39 p.m., he seemed to have stopped breathing.
After his official time of death was declared at 6:56 p.m., a news conference was held, where John Hamm, the commissioner of the Alabama Department of Corrections, revealed that it took two attempts to access McWhorter’s veins for the lethal injection. Hamm also read a letter from the victim’s daughter, expressing her grief and emphasizing that her father should still be alive. Gilbert Williams, the victim’s brother, stated that justice had been served and compared McWhorter’s execution to the peaceful death of a murderous dog.
There were three witness rooms in the death chamber, one for the victim’s family, one for the media and inmate witnesses, and one for state officials. McWhorter had no witnesses. The media witness room was small and had a sterile smell, with 13 chairs for the five media representatives present.
Governor Kay Ivey released a statement after the execution, acknowledging that McWhorter had finally answered for his actions. She described the brutal murder committed by McWhorter and his two accomplices, emphasizing that justice had been served despite the lengthy delay.
Earlier on the day of his execution, McWhorter received visits from his spiritual advisor, stepfather, and mother, as well as phone calls from his attorney and friends. He refused his breakfast and lunch trays and was seen drinking peach Sunkist. His final meal consisted of Turtles candy.
In an interview with the Associated Press before his execution, McWhorter expressed concern for his family and loved ones and encouraged young people to think through their choices before making life-altering mistakes.
McWhorter’s conviction stemmed from a robbery and murder he planned with two juvenile co-defendants, one of whom was the victim’s 15-year-old son. Armed with rifles and homemade silencers, they shot Edward Lee Williams 11 times in his home. McWhorter was convicted and sentenced to death by a jury vote of 10-2.
The execution of Casey McWhorter brings closure to a 30-year-long wait for justice for the victim’s family.
