Victim's daughter: I believe in redemption - but I don't know if Teresa will find it
The first woman to be executed in the U.S. in five years has been put to death in Virginia.
Forty-one-year-old Teresa Lewis died by injection at 9:13 pm local time tonight.
She became the first woman executed in Virginia in nearly a century.
Lewis was sentenced to die after she was convicted of arranging the killings of her husband and a stepson over a $250,000 insurance payment.
Supporters and relatives of the victims watched her execution at Greensville Correctional Center.
Her husband's daughter - her step-daughter - Cathy Clifton was among those selected to watch the execution.
She told the Associated Press that she believes in redemption - but is not sure if her step-mother will find it.
Both triggermen were sentenced to life in prison, and one committed suicide in 2006.
More than 7,300 appeals to stop the execution had been made to the governor in a state second only to Texas in the number of people it executes.
Forty-one-year-old Teresa Lewis died by injection at 9:13 pm local time tonight.
She became the first woman executed in Virginia in nearly a century.
Lewis was sentenced to die after she was convicted of arranging the killings of her husband and a stepson over a $250,000 insurance payment.
Supporters and relatives of the victims watched her execution at Greensville Correctional Center.
Her husband's daughter - her step-daughter - Cathy Clifton was among those selected to watch the execution.
She told the Associated Press that she believes in redemption - but is not sure if her step-mother will find it.
'I can't say one way or the other with her,' she said.
Lewis enticed two men through sex, cash and a promised cut in an insurance policy to shoot the sleeping men in October 2002.
Lewis enticed two men through sex, cash and a promised cut in an insurance policy to shoot the sleeping men in October 2002.
More than 7,300 appeals to stop the execution had been made to the governor in a state second only to Texas in the number of people it executes.
But despite an international outcry over her execution, today Lewis's lawyers admitted all her legal appeals had been exhausted.
Lewis, 41, who is mentally unstable, this afternoon held a last meeting with her family, spiritual adviser and supporters.
Earlier she informed prison staff of details of her final meal: two chicken breasts, sweet peas with butter, a Dr. Pepper and either German cake or apple pie for dessert.
Lewis pleaded guilty in May 2003 to two counts of capital murder for hire in the slayings of her husband Julian Lewis and her stepson, Charles Lewis.
Lewis, 41, who is mentally unstable, this afternoon held a last meeting with her family, spiritual adviser and supporters.
Earlier she informed prison staff of details of her final meal: two chicken breasts, sweet peas with butter, a Dr. Pepper and either German cake or apple pie for dessert.
Lewis pleaded guilty in May 2003 to two counts of capital murder for hire in the slayings of her husband Julian Lewis and her stepson, Charles Lewis.
Lewis' fate was sealed earlier this week when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block her execution.
The court's decision followed Virginia governor Bob McDonnell's refusal to reconsider a clemency request, which he rejected last Friday.
The grandmother, who has reportedly turned her life around in prison, told a TV station: ‘If I have to go home with Jesus... I know that’s going to be the best thing.’
Thousands of protesters, including the thriller writer John Grisham, claim her death sentence should be commuted to life imprisonment.
'A good and decent person is about to lose her life because of a system that is broken,' said lawyer James E. Rocap III, who represents Lewis.
He said he was referring to the decision by the Supreme Court and McDonnell's rejection of clemency.
The court's decision followed Virginia governor Bob McDonnell's refusal to reconsider a clemency request, which he rejected last Friday.
Thousands of protesters, including the thriller writer John Grisham, claim her death sentence should be commuted to life imprisonment.
'A good and decent person is about to lose her life because of a system that is broken,' said lawyer James E. Rocap III, who represents Lewis.
He said he was referring to the decision by the Supreme Court and McDonnell's rejection of clemency.
Rocap appealed for McDonnell to reconsider his decision to deny clemency to Lewis on Monday, claiming new evidence should spare her the death penalty.
Rocap argued that one of the gunmen later claimed he manipulated Lewis, who has a history of mental instability, 'to dupe her into believing he loved her so that he could achieve his own selfish goals.'
The gunmen, Matthew Shallenberger and Rodney Fuller, were sentenced to life terms. Shallenberger, whom Rocap names as the mastermind, committed suicide in prison in 2006.
'If she was not the mastermind - and it is now clear she was not - it is grossly unfair to impose the death sentence on her while Shallenberger and Fuller received life,' Rocap wrote to McDonnell.
Rocap argued that one of the gunmen later claimed he manipulated Lewis, who has a history of mental instability, 'to dupe her into believing he loved her so that he could achieve his own selfish goals.'
The gunmen, Matthew Shallenberger and Rodney Fuller, were sentenced to life terms. Shallenberger, whom Rocap names as the mastermind, committed suicide in prison in 2006.
McDonnell's legal counsel said the governor's decision would stand.
Based on a thorough review, 'The governor found no compelling reason to grant clemency and made a final decision,' J. Jasen Eige wrote to Rocap, who released the response on Tuesday.
Teresa Lewis and Julian Clifton Lewis Jr met in 2000 at a textile factory where they worked and later married.
In 2002, Julian's son Charles bought a $250,000 life insurance policy when he was called for active duty by the U.S. Army Reserve. He named his father as beneficiary.
Lewis offered herself and her 16-year-old daughter for sex to Shallenberger and Fuller. She stood by while they shot Lewis, 51, and his son, who was 25, in 2002.
Lewis rummaged through her husband's pockets for money while he lay dying and waited nearly an hour before calling paramedics.
Lewis allowed a judge to determine her sentence. Her attorneys believed she stood a better chance of getting a life prison term from the judge who had never sentenced anyone to death.
The last execution of a woman in the U.S. occurred in 2005 when Frances Newton died by injection in Texas.
In Virginia, the last woman executed was in 1912, when 17-year-old Virginia Christian died in the electric chair for suffocating her employer.
Thousands of advocates have appealed for clemency for Lewis, arguing she is a changed woman. Her scheduled execution has also stirred interest because of her gender.
Out of more than 1,200 executions since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976, only 11 women have been executed. Of the more than 3,200 inmates on death row nationwide, 53 are women.
Richard Dieter of the Death Penalty Information Center agreed that the death penalty is a human rights issue, but said the Iranian president is 'the wrong messenger.'
'The United States is, of course, interested in human rights abuses,' he said.
Based on a thorough review, 'The governor found no compelling reason to grant clemency and made a final decision,' J. Jasen Eige wrote to Rocap, who released the response on Tuesday.
Teresa Lewis and Julian Clifton Lewis Jr met in 2000 at a textile factory where they worked and later married.
In 2002, Julian's son Charles bought a $250,000 life insurance policy when he was called for active duty by the U.S. Army Reserve. He named his father as beneficiary.
TEENAGE MAID WAS LAST WOMAN TO BE EXECUTED IN STATE OF VIRGINIA
The last woman to be executed in the state of Virginia was 17-year-old maid Virginia Christian in 1912.
She was convicted of murdering her employer, Ida Belote, 72, at her home in Hampton on March 18th that year.
Belote died from suffocation after Christian stuffed a towel down her throat during a violent fight.
It is believed Belote frequently mistreated Christian and had earlier hit Christian with a 'spittoon' after accusing her of stealing a locket and a skirt.
Christian was arrested shortly after Belote's body was found and confessed to the killing.
With a lynch mob looming in the background, the teenager was executed by electric chair in the state penitentiary in Richmond.
Lewis rummaged through her husband's pockets for money while he lay dying and waited nearly an hour before calling paramedics.
Lewis allowed a judge to determine her sentence. Her attorneys believed she stood a better chance of getting a life prison term from the judge who had never sentenced anyone to death.
The last execution of a woman in the U.S. occurred in 2005 when Frances Newton died by injection in Texas.
In Virginia, the last woman executed was in 1912, when 17-year-old Virginia Christian died in the electric chair for suffocating her employer.
Thousands of advocates have appealed for clemency for Lewis, arguing she is a changed woman. Her scheduled execution has also stirred interest because of her gender.
Out of more than 1,200 executions since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976, only 11 women have been executed. Of the more than 3,200 inmates on death row nationwide, 53 are women.
Richard Dieter of the Death Penalty Information Center agreed that the death penalty is a human rights issue, but said the Iranian president is 'the wrong messenger.'
'The United States is, of course, interested in human rights abuses,' he said.
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