Oklahoma Death Row Killer Felt Body 'Burning' as Lethal Injection Pumped into his Veins

An man sentenced to death at Oklahoma State Penitentiary said he could feel "his whole body burning" as he died by lethal injection on Thursday.

Michael Lee Wilson was convicted of the murder of his co-worker Richard Yost and robbery on February 25th 1995, at a Quiktrip convenience store in Tulsa.

Jerry Massie, the prison spokesperson, confirmed Wilson said "I love everybody" before his execution was ordered.

He then uttered: "I love the world. Love my daughters for me. I'm going to miss you always."

His final remark, in the first twenty seconds of the injection being administered, was "I feel my whole body burning."

During his death, the sister of the defendant Staci Wilson sang a hymn which included the line "his soul is resting and it's a blessing." Ms Wilson then read Psalm 23 when Mr Wilson was pronounced dead at 6.06pm. He had shown no sign of distress during the execution.

Wilson, who was sentenced to death for first-degree murder, is one of three men executed for the crime. The fourth, Richard J Harjo, is currently serving a life sentence because he was 16 at the time of the murder.

Mr Wilson was hit with an aluminium baseball bat 54 times by the three men, including Wilson, as they robbed the shop. They had waited until customer had left the building before they attacked him.

The assault and burglary was interrupted by a security firm, who arrived when the men disturbed a safe, but Wilson posed as Yost to avert suspicion. Wilson also wore Yost's uniform and worked as a cashier as the hidden victim lay dying, to deter suspicions among night-time customers.

The attack was captured on CCTV cameras and after being arrested, Wilson allegedly told offers that the men had planned the robbery and murder two weeks previously. A week before the incident, Yost informed a member of the police that he felt under threat by the men.

Mr Yost's widow issued a statement on behalf of his family, after Wilson was executed.

"Closure will be not hearing this on the news and reading about it in the paper.

"That is my closure - not to relive his death over and over but to remember the good times."