9 months ago
67
Oklahoma executed death row inmate Anthony Sanchez on Thursday at the state penitentiary in McAlester. Sanchez was sentenced to death after being convicted of the 1996 murder of University of Oklahoma student Juli Busken, who was a 21-year-old ballerina. Busken was abducted, sexually assaulted, bound, and shot in the head. Her body was found at Lake Stanley Draper.Sanchez, 44, was pronounced dead at 10:19 a.m. Thursday. Oklahoma Department of Corrections officials said Busken's family did not attend the execution."Justice was served today for Juli Busken nearly 27 years after her life tragically was taken," Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a news release. "My hope is that today can bring some measure of peace to her family and friends."Witnesses reported that Sanchez's last words were that he was innocent and that he didn't kill anyone. He added that his attorneys were "the worst lawyers in the state of Oklahoma" and that he's "sorry to whoever has them as lawyers." Sanchez became a suspect in Busken's murder eight years after she was killed. A bullet, DNA evidence, a footprint, and a sketch of the suspect convinced a jury of his guilt.The Oklahoma death row inmate has always maintained his innocence and said the DNA evidence was flawed, but he did not request clemency this past summer."He felt like it wasn't going to be fair," Sanchez's spiritual advisor, the Rev. Jeff Hood, said. "He would rather die standing for his innocence than begging for clemency on his knees."At one point, Sanchez suggested that his father may have been the killer. Sanchez said he wanted to give the Busken family peace."He clearly said if that is what makes them happy or gives them closure that he is perfectly content with dying," Hood said.The Oklahoma Supreme Court denied Sanchez's request to pause his execution.
Oklahoma executed death row inmate Anthony Sanchez on Thursday at the state penitentiary in McAlester.
Sanchez was sentenced to death after being convicted of the 1996 murder of University of Oklahoma student Juli Busken, who was a 21-year-old ballerina. Busken was abducted, sexually assaulted, bound, and shot in the head. Her body was found at Lake Stanley Draper.
Sanchez, 44, was pronounced dead at 10:19 a.m. Thursday. Oklahoma Department of Corrections officials said Busken's family did not attend the execution.
"Justice was served today for Juli Busken nearly 27 years after her life tragically was taken," Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a news release. "My hope is that today can bring some measure of peace to her family and friends."
Witnesses reported that Sanchez's last words were that he was innocent and that he didn't kill anyone. He added that his attorneys were "the worst lawyers in the state of Oklahoma" and that he's "sorry to whoever has them as lawyers."
Sanchez became a suspect in Busken's murder eight years after she was killed. A bullet, DNA evidence, a footprint, and a sketch of the suspect convinced a jury of his guilt.
The Oklahoma death row inmate has always maintained his innocence and said the DNA evidence was flawed, but he did not request clemency this past summer.
"He felt like it wasn't going to be fair," Sanchez's spiritual advisor, the Rev. Jeff Hood, said. "He would rather die standing for his innocence than begging for clemency on his knees."
At one point, Sanchez suggested that his father may have been the killer.
Sanchez said he wanted to give the Busken family peace.
"He clearly said if that is what makes them happy or gives them closure that he is perfectly content with dying," Hood said.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court denied Sanchez's request to pause his execution.
English (US)