BONNE TERRE, MISSOURI: Johnny Johnson, a 45-year-old death row inmate, was executed by lethal injection at the Missouri state prison in Bonne Terre on Tuesday, August 1. Johnson had been convicted of the heinous murder of six-year-old Casey Williamson in 2002 after attempting to sexually assault her. His execution marks the fourth lethal injection carried out in the state of Missouri this year.

The execution faced a temporary halt last week when a three-judge panel of the 8th US Circuit Court raised concerns about Johnson's mental competency. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and his lawyers argued that he lacked a full understanding of the connection between his crime and the punishment he faced. This led to a brief suspension of the execution. However, the temporary halt was reversed on Monday, July 31, in a 7-3 ruling after the Missouri Attorney General's Office requested the appeals court to reconsider. Missouri Governor Mike Parson confirmed Johnson's death sentence on the same day.

What were Johnny Johnson's last words?

Johnson's final meal before his execution consisted of a bacon cheeseburger, curly fries, and a strawberry shake. He was pronounced dead at 7.33 pm EST, as authorities reported. In his written final statement, Johnson expressed remorse and issued an apology to those impacted by his crime over two decades ago. The statement read, "God Bless. Sorry to the people and family I hurt."

The chilling details of the crime emerged from court documents. Johnson had attended a barbecue at Williamson's father's residence in Valley Park, Missouri, the night before the murder and spent the night on the couch. Williamson's mother, Angie Wideman, revealed that Johnson was her best friend's little brother.

Murder inside abandoned glass factory

The following morning, Johnson lured Williamson to an abandoned glass factory with the intention of sexually assaulting her. When Williamson resisted and attempted to escape, Johnson brutally beat her multiple times in the head with a brick and a boulder, resulting in her tragic death. Johnson then buried Williamson with rocks and leaves near the factory and attempted to wash away any evidence in the Meramec River. He later confessed to the crime on the same day and was subsequently convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and attempted rape in 2005.

Governor Mike Parson, upon confirming Johnson's execution, expressed his deep condolences to the family of Casey Williamson. "Johnny Johnson's crime is one of the most horrific murders that has come across my desk," Parson said in a statement Monday, July 31. "Casey was an innocent young girl who bravely fought Johnson until he took her life. My office has received countless letters in the last few weeks seeking justice for Casey. Although this won't bring her back, we hope that carrying out Johnson's sentence, according to the Court's order, may provide some closure for Casey's loved ones."

Mental incompetence claims

Advocates for Johnson argued that he was mentally incompetent when he committed the crime and never received appropriate care while in custody. They claimed that Johnson had stopped taking his schizophrenia medication six months before Williamson's death because it made him feel like a "zombie." Democratic Representatives Emanuel Cleaver and Cori Bush also joined the call for clemency, citing extensive evidence of Johnson's lack of understanding regarding the reasons for his execution.

Contrarily, Williamson's great-aunt, Della Steele, made an emotional plea to Governor Parson, urging him to proceed with Johnson's execution. She emphasized the need to send a clear message that such crimes against children cannot go unpunished. "He did something horrible. He took a life away from a completely innocent child, and there have to be consequences for that," Steele told AP.

It is essential to note that the US Supreme Court has previously ruled that the death penalty is prohibited in cases where the inmate suffers from severe mental illness. Johnson's execution marks the 16th in the United States this year and the fourth in Missouri. The state has previously executed three other inmates: 42-year-old Michael Tisius, 62-year-old Scott Eizember, and 49-year-old Amber McLaughlin, Newsweek reported.