David Zink
David Zink, 55, was executed by lethal injection on July 14, 2015, at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Missouri. A Missouri Department of Corrections spokesman said the injection began at 7:33 p.m. and he was pronounced dead at 7:41 p.m. In a final statement, he apologized to the victim's family and friends and said he hoped the execution would bring them peace. His lawyers asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the execution and argued the death penalty is unconstitutional, and a federal appeals court had earlier rejected his challenge to the lethal injection drug process. The Missouri Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to stop the execution, and Governor Jay Nixon denied a clemency request.
Cause of death, as reported: Executed by the state. Zink's lawyers argued the death penalty itself is unconstitutional and asked the courts to halt the execution, which the courts declined to do.
Reported by: Missouri Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); Mike O'Connell, spokesman for the corrections department (the agency that held him); his lawyers; U.S. Supreme Court (court).