McALESTER —
Death row inmate George Ochoa, 38, was the sixth inmate to be executed this year in Oklahoma. His death sentence was carried out by prison officials this evening in the death chamber at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.
Department of Corrections Director Justin Jones told prison officials inside the execution chamber to proceed with the execution process. At 6:01 p.m., the blinds covering windows between the witness room and the death chamber were raised.
Ochoa raised his head from the death gurney briefly and looked into the witness room.
OSP Deputy Warden Art Lightle asked Ochoa if he had any last words.
“I’m innocent,” Ochoa said.
Ochoa spoke no other words other than those.
At 6:02 p.m. Lightle said, “Let the execution begin.”
After the lethal dose was administered to Ochoa, his eyes blinked multiple times. He chewed slightly on his lower lip. Then he lifted his head slightly. His head then came to rest back on the death gurney and his eyes closed.
By 6:06 p.m., color had drained from Ochoa’s face and at 6:07 p.m., the attending physician pronounced Ochoa’s time of death.
Witnessing the execution were two media representatives, 10 Department of Corrections officials and 19 members of the victims’ family. Twelve of those 19 were in the witness chamber and the remaining witnesses watched the execution via video tele-feed from one floor below the execution chamber.
Although there were five members of Ochoa’s family scheduled to witness his execution, none of those five were in the witness room when he was executed.
Ochoa requested for his last meal a large meat lover’s pizza and a large Coke, which was served to him at around noon Tuesday, according to prison officials.
“Ochoa was convicted and sentenced to death for the first-degree murders of Francisco Morales, 38, and wife, Maria Yanez, 35,” said Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt in an earlier press release. “According to the report, Morales suffered 12 gunshot wounds and Yanez suffered 11 gunshot wounds while in their bedroom ... The victim’s children were in the home at the time of the murders.”
According to court records, Morales and Yanez were shot and killed in their bedroom in the early morning hours of July 12, 1993. The sound of gunfire woke Yanez’s 14-year-old daughter, court records state, and she called 911 before looking out her bedroom door. “(She) saw two men,” court records state.
The young girl at first denied knowing the men, but eventually identified them as Ochoa and Osvaldo Torres, court records state. The young girl’s 11-year-old step-brother saw one of the men shoot his father, court records state.
Ochoa and Torres were arrested “a short distance from the homicide,” court records state. “A short time before the shootings, Torres and Ochoa parked their car at a friend’s house,” court records state. “A witness observed one of the men take a gun from the trunk of the car and put the gun in his pants.”
Both Torres and Ochoa were tried and sentenced to death for the murders.
“However, in 2004, former Gov. Brad Henry commuted Torres’ sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole,” Pruitt continues in his press release.
During his 2004 clemency hearing, Torres admitted that he had planned to burglarize Morales’ and Yanez’s home. “I never killed anyone. And I never knew George was going to kill anyone.”
Ochoa had been in custody with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections since April 1, 1996, less than two weeks after he was convicted in Oklahoma County of first degree murder.
Contact Rachel Petersen at rpetersen@mcalesternews.com.
Local News
Related Photos
-
George Ochoa Photo courtesy of OSP
Oklahoma death row inmate’s last words: 'I’m innocent'
- Local News
-
-
Two-time killer executed at OSP
A two-time convicted killer, and death row inmate at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, was executed via lethal injection Tuesday evening in the prison’s death chamber.
-
McAlester's Juneteenth celebration hosts picnic style comradery
More than 20 people turned out for ceremonies to celebrate Juneteenth, Saturday.
At 10 a.m., the American Legion Post 250 color guard posted our nations colors under the picnic canopy at Michael J. Hunter Park at 14th Street and Chickasaw Avenue. -
McAlester man pleads guilty to pulling gun on police
A McAlester pleaded guilty recently to pulling a gun on police.
-
Lions Club Proclamation
McAlester Lions Club will celebrate its 95th year anniversary with a proclamation Tuesday. Pictured front row from left are, Deb Nortunen, McAlester Mayor Steve Harrison and Jerry Grubbs; and back row, Tom Crowl, Lance Woodliff and Bill Nicholson.
-
News-Capital earns top honor
The McAlester News-Capital has been honored with the Oklahoma Press Association’s 2012 Sequoyah Award, naming it the best Division 2 newspaper in Oklahoma.
-
Computer glitch affects county schools to the tune of $400,000
More than $400,000 had to be repaid by Pittsburg County schools because of a county computer glitch, according to Pittsburg County Treasurer Donna Scrivner
-
Killer set to die today
A convicted killer, and death row inmate at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, is set to be executed via lethal injection today at 6 p.m. in the prison’s death chamber.
-
Gear Up
Oklahoma District 18 Rep. Donnie Condit, standing, recently visited with 8th grade students from McAlester and 7th and 8th grade students from Panama during Eastern Oklahoma State College’s GEAR UP Summer Leadership Camp in Wilburton.
-
Fire hydrants in store for Shady Grove
An agreement signed Monday between the Shady Grove Volunteer Fire Department and Rural Water District 9 will allow the installation of fire hydrants on water lines in the Shady Grove area.
-
Steak and Shake
Work is nearly completed on the new Steak’n Shake that will be located on U.S. Highway 69 next to the Farm Credit.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Raw: Obama Arrives in Berlin
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Obama Seeks G-8 Support on Syria
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
Suicide Bombs Target Baghdad Mosque, Killing 29
Military Plans to Put Women in Combat Jobs
Solar Power Chargers in NYC Parks
Civil Rights Groups Sue NYPD Over Muslim Spying
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Boeing, Airbus Battle for Sales Supremacy
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity
Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor
Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard
See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab
Sofia Vergara Posts Perky Backside Pic in Thong
Gaga Ditches Her Crazy Couture
Caught on Tape: Teacher Accused of Beating Autistic Child
"Stay Classy" Campaign Aims to Curb Binge Drinking
Sesame Street Tackling Tough Topic Parents in Jail
Miss Utah Fumbles Interview Question
Deranged man claims Newark-bound flight was poisoned
