A death row prisoner last words were “I’m ready warden send me home” before he was given a lethal injection for killing a pregnant former girlfriend and her seven-year-old son.
Stephen Barbee, 55, said that he wanted “everyone to have peace in their heart” and didn’t want this to be “a sad moment for all my friends and loved ones.”
He was condemned for the February 2005 deaths of Lisa Underwood, 34, and her son Jayden who were killed at their home in Fort Worth.
Courts rejected his appeals over claims of religious freedom violations and indifference to his medical needs.
Barbee suffered a disability from severe joint deterioration which prevented him from extending his arms and his execution at the Texas state penitentiary in Huntsville was prolonged due to difficulty in finding his veins.
He was pronounced dead at 7.35pm nearly an hour and half after he was strapped to the gurney in the execution chamber.
“Due to his inability to extend his arms, it took longer to ensure he had functional IV lines,” prison spokesperson Amanda Hernandez said, reported the Texas Tribune.
He was then given the lethal dose at 7.09pm and pronounced dead at 7.35pm.
Barbee's lawyer had called for a stay of execution due to "intolerable pain and suffering" which he would suffer from the normal method with the prisoner's arms stretched out, but this was rejected by the Texas Attorney General's Office.
After being strapped to the gurney and before the lethal dose was given, he gave his final words where he talked of God’s love and peace.
He stated: “I want to take this moment to be shared with everyone, to give God all the glory of our love, peace, wisdom, kindness and respect. God knows the truth. He is the truth, the way, and the life.
"I don’t want this to be a sad moment for all my friends and loved ones. God gave his blood and died in three days for the glory and grace for all of us that will serve him in eternity. I want to thank all the field ministers for doing a good job of changing people and teaching the word of God.
"It’s a different place now. Thank you minister and my brothers, I love them. I also want to thank the field ministers that helped me get through this. I want everyone to have peace in their heart that only Jesus can give us. I love you Jennifer, Ashley and Fabio. Thank you for everything.
"Thank you brother, I’m ready to go home. I’m ready warden send me home. I just want everyone to have peace in their heart, make eternity with Jesus, give him the glory in everything you do. I’m ready.”
Prosecutors said Barbee killed his ex-girlfriend and her son because he didn't want his wife to know Underwood was seven months pregnant, presumably by him.
DNA evidence later revealed Barbee wasn't the father. Underwood owned a Fort Worth bagel shop, which was named after her son. She and her son were reported missing after failing to show up at a baby shower.
Barbee confessed to police he killed Underwood and her son but later recanted. Barbee said the confession was coerced and has since maintained he is innocent and was framed by his business partner.
His trial, including sentencing, took less than three days to complete in February 2006.
