COVID-19 concerns close-in on crowds expected for TH executions

Website-provided image of similar set up

UPDATE 7/14/20 - Federal executions at the prison in Terre Haute resumed this week with the lethal injection carried out this morning for Daniel Lee.
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The Supreme Court voted on the matter in the early hours, deciding executions could continue as planned. The decision overruled one halting the death by a lower court just hours before the scheduled time.

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UPDATE 7/13/20- The execution was stopped by another judge. The first sceduled execution of the week did not go as scheduled. The justice department is appealing the decision at this time.

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UPDATE 7/12/20 -   A ruling from the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturns a lower court order that had recently placed the execution of 47-year-old Daniel Lewis Lee on hold due to coronavirus concerns.
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​UPDATE 7/10/20 - A Southern District of Indiana federal judge has postponed the execution scheduled for Monday, after the victims' family requested it be delayed due to coronavirus.  Daniel Lewis Lee will face lethal injection at a later date.

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By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News

The first federal execution in nearly 20 years is set to take place in Terre Haute next week:

ICN file photo Terre Haute prison

July 13

Daniel Lewis Lee, 47, of Oklahoma, is the first of four set to die by lethal injection at the federal penitentiary located on S.R. 63.  He was convicted for killing a family of three.

​Citing health concerns in light of coronavirus, family members of his murder victims recently filed a law suit to postpone the execution until after the pandemic.

The following information on death row inmate is provided by the Bureau of Prisons website: 

​Sentenced on: May 13, 2002 Sentencing District: Eastern District of Arkansas

Conviction: Participating in a racketeering enterprise, conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise, murder in aid of racketeering

Committed: May 30, 2002 to the Federal Bureau of Prisons

Jail Credit: June 15, 1997 thru May 12, 2002 Time served at date of execution: 23 years and 1 month

Inmate Description- Race: White Gender: Male 

BOP image

 As the focus in the area turns to the prison grounds, Bureau of Prison officials welcome demonstrators for and against the death penalty. Large crowds are expected.

​Arrangements have been made for protesters to meet at Voorhees Park Monday for processing between noon and 1:30 p.m. Transportation will be provided by bus to the prison. 

Demonstrators in favor of the death penalty will meet at the MSA Softball field located on W. Jones Drive,  at the same times and means of transportation.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, participants will undergo health screening. Face masks and other personal protective equipement will be provided and social distancing will be encouraged.

Meanwhile, two other executions at the Federal Prison south of the city will also take place this month, if everything goes according to schedule.

U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr says capital punishment is part of bringing the offenders to justice for heinous crimes, noting that each of the inmates has exhausted appellate and post-conviction remedies.

"The American people, acting through Congress and Presidents of both political parties, have long instructed that defendants convicted of the most heinous crimes should be subject to a sentence of death. We owe it to the victims of these horrific crimes, and to the families left behind, to carry forward the sentence imposed by our justice system," he stated in apress release last month. He adds that the four scheduled for executions all killed children.

July 15 ( UPDATE: Purkey was put to death by lethal injection July 16 at 8:19 a.m.)

Wesley Ira Purkey, 68, of Kansas, is convicted of raping and murdered a 16-year-old girl and also killing an 80-year-old woman. The 7th Circuit of Appeals has temporarily stayed the execution of the Terre Haute inmate.

The following information on death row inmate is provided by the Bureau of Prisons website: 

Sentenced on: Jan. 23, 2004

Sentencing District: Western District of Missouri

Conviction: Kidnapping for the purpose of rape resulting in death of the victim

Committed: Feb. 9, 2004 to the Federal Bureau of Prisons

Time served at date of execution: 16 years and 6 months

Inmate description - Race: White. ​


July 17 (UPDATE: Honken was pronounced dead at 4:36 p.m.)

Dustin Lee Honken, 52, of Iowa, is convicted of killing five people, including two children.

The following information on death row inmate is provided by the Bureau of Prisons website: 

Sentenced on: Oct. 11, 2005

Sentencing District: Northern District of Iowa

Conviction: Conspiracy to commit murder, engaging in the manufacture & distribution of methamphetamine and continuing criminal enterprise murder

Committed: Oct. 13, 2005 to the Federal Bureau of Prisons

Time Served at date of execution: 22 years and 5 months

Inmate description - Race: White 


Additionally, one execution is scheduled for next month.

Aug. 28

Keith Dwayne Nelson, 45, of Missouri , is convicted of kidnappimg a 10-year-old girl, raping her and strangling her to death.

The following information on death row inmate is provided by the Bureau of Prisons website: 

Sentenced on: Jan. 23, 2004

Sentencing District: Western District of Missouri

Conviction: Kidnapping for the purpose of rape resulting in death of the victim

Committed: Feb. 9, 2004 to the Federal Bureau of Prisons

Time served at date of execution: 16 years and 6 months

Inmate description - Race: White. 
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For more information on federal executions from 1927 to 2003, see:  https://www.bop.gov/about/history/federal_executions.jsp