23rd execution in the United States since the start of the year. A man sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a girl in 2007 was executed Tuesday in Missouri, the prison administration announced in the evening.
The 49-year-old man was sentenced to death in 2012 for the rape and murder of a friend’s 9-year-old stepdaughter, whom he kidnapped, raped and then strangled when he was found to have recognized him, according to court documents. He threw her body in a hole, where she was found a few days later.
His lawyers have exhausted all legal remedies, with the United States Supreme Court rejecting his request for a stay of execution on Monday. On Monday, Missouri Republican Governor Mike Parson rejected final calls for clemency.
The death penalty has been abolished in 23 of the 50 American states. Six others (Arizona, California, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee) observe a moratorium on executions by decision of the governor.
