The final words of a death row inmate ahead of his execution have been released.
Brian Dorsey was sentenced to death in 2006 following his conviction for murdering his cousin, Sarah Bonnie, and her husband, Ben Bonnie.
The 52-year-old killed the pair while their four-year-old daughter was at home, though she was left unharmed.
According to documents, Dorsey had called his cousin before the attack, looking to borrow some money to pay off drug dealers who were at his flat.
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Appeals on behalf of Dorsey, including from the advocacy group Death Penalty Action, were denied by the US Supreme Court.
Governor Mike Parson also rejected a clemency request, and Dorsey received the lethal injection at the state prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri, at 6:11 p.m local time on Tuesday (9 April).
He took several deep breaths followed by a few shallow breaths before dying.
Ahead of his execution, Dorsey submitted a written letter in which he expressed guilt for his crimes.
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He said: "To all of the family and loved ones I share with Sarah and to all of the surviving family and loved ones of Ben, I am truly, deeply and overwhelmingly sorry.
"Words cannot hold the just weight of my guilt and shame. I still love you. I never wanted to hurt anyone. I am sorry I hurt them and you.
"To my family, friends, and all of those that tried to prevent this, I love you; I am grateful for you. I have peace in my heart in large part because of you and I thank you.
"To all those on ALL sides of this sentence, I carry no ill will or anger, only acceptance and understanding."
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Prior to his execution, Abraham Bonowitz, the executive director of Death Penalty Action, told The Mirror that Dorsey was a trusted inmate and deserved a second chance.
"Clemency is supposed to be about whether a person is worthy of mercy, not a retrial of the facts of the case," he said.
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"Brian Dorsey is so trusted that he is the prison barber, using sharp instruments on corrections workers, but it seems Governor Parson just doesn't care. Parson would deny clemency even to Jesus."
Dorsey's lawyer, Kirk Henderson, claimed that over 70 correctional officers backed his case.
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He said: "Brian Dorsey is kind, gentle, hardworking, and humble.
"He has spent every day of the past 18 years trying to make up for the single act of violence he committed, serving the prison community as the staff barber and never getting in even the slightest trouble.''
However, rejecting any call for clemency on behalf of Dorsey, Gov Parsons said 'the pain Dorsey brought to others can never be rectified' and that 'Missouri law and the Court’s order will deliver justice and provide closure'.
Topics: True Crime, Crime, Death Row, US News
Dominic Smithers