State Of Oklahoma Executes Tulsa Man Thursday Evening

Thursday, March 15th 2012, 7:58 am

By: News On 6

A man convicted of killing his wife in Tulsa in 1996 was put to death by lethal injection Thursday evening at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.

Timothy Stemple has been on death row for 16 years. Stemple confessed to and was convicted of beating Trisha Stemple, 30, with a baseball bat, then running over her on the side of highway 75 near Jenks.

The execution was carried out at the state prison in McAlester after Governor Mary Fallin denied a request by the condemned man's family to stay the capital punishment.

3/13/2012 Related Story: Anti-Death Penalty Group Asks Governor To Stay Tulsa Man's Execution

News On 6 Lori Fullbright - who witnessed the execution - said Stemple offered no final words, in fact he didn't look at anyone before his death. The room was silent expect for other death row inmates banging on their cell.

His family sought to have medical testimony disputing his accomplice's account heard in court.

Stemple maintained his innocence throughout the trial and appeals process. And at a clemency hearing last month, he declined to talk about the case, saying it wasn't the appropriate forum.

The Pardon and Parole Board denied his plea for clemency.

Stemple's last meal was a large stuffed crust pizza and orange soda. Death row inmates have a $15 limit.

