Christopher Collings, 49, was executed by lethal injection in Missouri on Tuesday evening. Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Corrections/Website
The State of Missouri executed death row inmate Christopher Collings by lethal injection Tuesday evening for the 2007 abduction, rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl.
Collings, 49, was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m. CST at the Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Mo., the Missouri Department of Corrections confirmed to UPI in an emailed statement. Advertisement
His execution was carried out a day after both the U.S. Supreme Court and Missouri’s Republican governor, Michael Parson, denied Collings’ clemency.
“Mr. Collings has received every protection afforded by the Missouri and United States Constitutions, and Mr. Collings’ conviction and sentence remain for his horrendous and callous crime,” Parson said in a statement.
“The State of Missouri will carry out Mr. Collings’ sentence according to the Court’s order and deliver justice.”
In his final statement, Collings accepted that he was to die.
“Right or wrong I accept this situation for what it is,” he wrote. “To anyone that I have hurt in this life I am sorry. I hope that you are able to get closure and move on. Regardless which side of this situation that you are on. You are in my prayers and I hope to see you in heaven one day.” Advertisement
This is a developing story.
