"University City man is executed for two slayings," is the initial AP report, via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
A Missouri inmate has been put to death for killing two St. Louis County women in 1996, marking the state's fifth execution this year.
A corrections spokesman said John Winfield, of University City, died early Wednesday at the state prison in Bonne Terre. Winfield took four or five deep breaths as the drug was injected, puffed his cheeks twice and then fell silent, all in a matter of a few seconds.
His execution came shortly after convicted killer Marcus Wellons was put to death in Georgia. Wellons' was the first execution in the nation since a botched execution on April 29 in Oklahoma raised new concerns about lethal injection.
Another convicted killer, John Ruthell Henry, is scheduled to die later today in Florida.
It was the 22nd execution in an American death penalty state this year; Missouri's fifth execution this year. There have been a total of 1,381 post-Furman executions since 1977. Georgia has carried out 75 of those executions since 1989.
Earlier coverage of John Winfield's case begins at the link.
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