Indiana set to execute convicted rapist, murderer Roy Lee Ward

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. - At 12:01 a.m. CDT Friday, Indiana Department of Correction authorities will begin the process of delivering Roy Lee Ward to the Execution Chamber at the Indiana State Prison so that he may be put to death for the rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl 24 years ago in Spencer County, Indiana.




Last week, Ward dismissed the appeal of his death sentence for the murder of Stacy Payne.




The Dale, Indiana, teenager allowed Ward into her home when her parents were not present in July 2001.




Testimony from Stacy's younger sister confirmed that she spotted Ward on top of the girl as the younger child ran for the safety of her parents' bedroom and dialed 911.




When first responders arrived, they found Ward in the front hallway of the home with a bloody knife and Stacy was discovered in the kitchen, her abdomen and throat slashed, unable to speak.




She died five hours later.




During his trial, Ward was described by his own attorney as "a severe psychopath".




He had an extensive criminal record across three states with several crimes of a sexual nature.




Citing his offenses while incarcerated, the Indiana Parole Board wrote, "Mr. Ward is still struggling with whatever affliction is causing him to behave this way."




Ward was convicted and sentenced to die before a higher court ruled he deserved a second trial, where the defendant pleaded guilty and was once again given the death penalty.




In his latest appeal, Ward's attorneys did not argue that he was innocent or had received an unfair trial, only that his earlier diagnosis of an anti-social personality was inaccurate and rather that he tested on the autism spectrum, which left him unable to fully communicate his remorse for the crime.




Ward also sought an appeal as to his fear of unnecessary pain during the execution process and his inability to look through the one-way glass of the execution chamber so as not to see the faces of the witnesses to his death.




During last month's clemency hearing, responding EMT Jane Stout testified that, "In my 42 years, I have never seen anything this brutal in my life," while lead Detective Randy Cutrell said, "I have never seen a murder scene as bad as this. It was horrible. It was the most brutal thing that I have ever witnessed. I think about this case every day."




Ward did not participate in the hearing.




If carried out as scheduled, Ward's execution will be the third in Indiana since December of last year.



via: https://fox59.com/indiana-news/indiana-set-to-execute-convicted-rapist-murderer-roy-lee-ward/