Alabama executed Derrick Dearman, 36, after he massacred five family members with an ax and a gun in 2016. The victims were his girlfriend’s brother, Joseph Turner; Turner’s wife Shannon Randall; Randall’s brother Robert Brown; and Randall’s niece Chelsea Reed, Reed’s husband Justin, and their unborn baby. Dearman requested his execution and dropped his appeals, expressing remorse for his actions. He was the fifth inmate executed in Alabama this year. Attorney General Steve Marshall emphasized the brutal nature of the crime and the lack of mercy shown by Dearman. Republican Governor Kay Ivey also supported the decision to carry out the death sentence. Derrick Dearman’s last meal was a seafood platter, and family members visited him before the execution. The victims’ families expressed mixed feelings about the execution, hoping for closure but acknowledging that true justice will come from God. Dearman’s conviction stemmed from a drug-fueled rampage through the victims’ home, where he used an ax and guns to kill them before kidnapping his girlfriend and her infant. Dearman’s execution was seen as an opportunity for the families to find peace and closure after the tragic loss of their loved ones.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com