He had been on death row since 1998 😳😳

In 2020, Wesley Ira Purkey, 68, was executed by lethal injection for two brutal murders committed in 1998—16-year-old Jennifer Long and 80-year-old Mary Bales. Despite his horrific crimes, his execution raised serious ethical questions.

**A Troubled Past and Legal Missteps**
Purkey confessed to Long’s murder while already serving a life sentence, hoping to be moved to federal custody. Instead, he was federally prosecuted and sentenced to death.

**Painful Death by Lethal Injection**
His autopsy revealed signs of acute pulmonary edema—fluid-filled lungs—suggesting he experienced severe suffering during the injection. Experts argue the use of pentobarbital can cause sensations akin to drowning.

**Mental Health Concerns**
Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Purkey was reportedly delusional before his execution, believing he could vote for Bill Clinton. Lawyers argued he was not mentally fit to be executed.

**A Tragic Symbol: The Last Meal**
He requested pecan pie “for later,” unaware there would be no later—highlighting the clinical detachment of the execution process.

**Final Words**
He apologized to his victims’ families and protested the process:
*“This sanitized murder really does not serve no purpose whatsoever.”*

His case continues to fuel debate over the morality and methods of capital punishment in the U.S.