William Boyd was executed by the State of Alabama for the murders of Fred and Evelyn Blackmon
According to court documents William Boyd and Robert Milstead would break into the home of Fred and Evelyn Blackmon and told the couple that they had kidnapped their daughter. The couple would be tied up and brought to a remote location where they were killed
William Boyd and Robert Milstead were arrested
Milstead would testify against Boyd in exchange for a life sentence
William Boyd would be sentenced to death
William Boyd would be executed on March 31 2011 by lethal injection
William Boyd Photos
William Boyd FAQ
When Was William Boyd Executed
William Boyd was executed on March 31 2011
William Boyd Case
Alabama death row inmate William Glen Boyd, convicted in the 1986 murders of a wealthy Anniston couple, died at 6:23 p.m. by lethal injection this evening at Holman Prison in Atmore.
Boyd’s execution was carried out at 6 p.m. after he failed to get a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court or clemency from Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley.
As the execution began, Holman Correctional Facility Warden Tony Patterson came into the execution room and read the execution warrant from the Alabama Supreme Court
After that, Patterson asked Boyd if he wanted to make a statement. Boyd weakly answered “no.”
A few minutes later, as Boyd was administered a sedative, Chris Summers, the Holman chaplain, came over and said some words to Boyd, then knelt and held Boyd’s left hand and appeared to be praying. Boyd’s lips were moving as the chaplain prayed. Boyd stared at the florescent lights on the ceiling much of the time, looking over once at the three witnesses — a lawyer and two ministers — who were there on his behalf.
Nine people, including family of the victims, were in another witness box.
After Boyd closed his eyes, a correctional officer came over to him and said, “Boyd, Boyd,” pinched his arm, and brushed his left eye brow to check to make sure Boyd was unconscious before the lethal injection started. The large bald man’s breathing slowed and eventually was undetectable.
A group of 14 protesters appeared about a quarter-mile from the prison entrance just before the execution began.
Boyd had been on death row since his 1987 capital murder conviction in the 1986 deaths of a wealthy Anniston couple, Fred Blackmon, 76, and his 41-year-old wife, Evelyn.
The Blackmons were kidnapped, robbed, beaten, then shot before their bodies were dumped into the Coosa River.
A jury had recommended Boyd receive a sentence of life without parole, but the Calhoun County Circuit Court judge in the case sentenced him to death.
Boyd, 45, had been on Death Row 23 years, 11 months and 22 days. He was the 27th Alabama Death Row inmate to die from lethal injection since 2002, the last time the electric chair was used. He was the 204th person to be executed in Alabama since 1927.
Boyd’s attorneys had appealed Wednesday to the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the execution, saying the judge had not followed Alabama Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court rules in overriding the jury’s recommendation for a life sentence. The attorneys also claimed Boyd had ineffective assistance from his attorneys at the time of his sentencing.
The Supreme Court denied that appeal. Boyd’s execution is the first one since Bentley took office.
Another man, Robert Denton Milstead, pleaded guilty in the case under an agreement with prosecutors and was sentenced to life without parole.
Boyd was among 203 inmates on Alabama’s death row before his execution.
Boyd visited with his lawyer, and nine other friends and family today as the time neared for his execution this evening at Holman Prison in Atmore.
Brian Corbett, spokesman for the Alabama Department of Corrections said that since Boyd was moved to the death holding cell near the execution room on Tuesday, he’s had 12 visitors. Those include one brother, sister-in-law, two nephews, his sister Cynthia Pierce, brother-in-law, two friends, one spiritual adviser, two other ministers and his attorney Ruth Friedman.
All but two of those visitors, Pierce and his brother in-law Charles Pierce, had seen him today, beginning this morning, Corbett said. Visitation was to end at 4:15 p.m. today.
Three people were witnesses for Boyd at tonight’s execution, his attorney and two ministers, Corbett said.
Boyd requested chicken, French fries, apple sauce, tomatoes and an orange drink for his last meal, Corbett said. Earlier today Boyd ate a meatball sub, a Philly cheese steak sandwich, V-8 Splash and coffee, all from a vending machine in visitation yard, which is indoors, he said.
https://www.al.com/spotnews/2011/03/william_boyd_executed_on_alaba.html
