LUCASVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- A child killer was put to death with no apparent complications Wednesday in Ohio’s first execution since a problem-plagued one 3½ years ago triggered an uproar over the reliability of the lethal injection drugs used by the state.
Ronald Phillips, 43, was condemned to die for the 1993 rape and slaying of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter, Sheila Marie Evans. He was given a three-drug combination never used in Ohio before.
As he lay on the execution table, he apologized to the child’s aunt and half-sister, who were there to watch him die for his crimes.
"I know that Sheila Marie didn’t deserve what I did to her," he said.
Donna Hudson, the victim’s aunt, said: "God forgave him, but, I’m sorry, I don’t think I can." |