Texas Inmate, Stephen Barbee, Executed For The 2005 Murder Of His Pregnant Ex-Girlfriend And Her Son
On November 16, a Texas inmate was executed for the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend and her 7-year-old son.
The death of Lisa Underwood, 34, and her son Jayden happened in February of 2005. They were suffocated in their home in Fort Worth and later found buried in a shallow grave near Denton County.
The courts rejected Stephen Barbee, 55, appeals over claims of religious freedom violations and indifference to his medical needs.
According to court records, Barbee had severe joint deterioration, which prohibited him from straightening his arms or laying them flat. His lawyers attempted to halt the execution as he feared this would result in “torture”. Courts rejected the appeals and noted that prison officials vowed to make special adjustments to the death chamber’s gurney to accommodate Barbee.
“Due to his inability to extend his arms, it took longer to ensure he had functional IV lines,” prison spokeswoman Amanda Hernandez said in an email Wednesday night.
After being strapped on the gurney, an IV was inserted into his right hand at 6:14 p.m. It took another 35 minutes for an additional line to begin flowing in the left side of his neck.
About 15 minutes after the IV was inserted into his neck, he gave his final statement.
“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,” he said before being injected at 7:09 p.m.
He received a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville and was pronounced dead at 7:35 p.m.
