On Thursday, Oklahoma executed Kevin Ray Underwood, the man convicted of murdering 10-year-old Jamie Rose Bolin in 2006, despite attempts by his defense team to blame the horrific crime on autism and mental health issues. Underwood, who turned 45 on the day of his execution, was pronounced dead after being administered lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.
Underwood had confessed to luring Jamie into his home, where he beat and suffocated her. He also admitted that he had planned to cannibalize her but abandoned the idea before nearly beheading her in his bathtub. The crime shocked the nation, and the jury quickly convicted Underwood, sentencing him to death.
During his trial, Underwood’s defense attorneys argued that he suffered from various mental health conditions, including autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They petitioned to stop his execution, claiming that executing someone with such conditions was unjust. The petition, backed by nearly 6,000 signatures, called the execution of a mentally ill individual “irreversible” and harmful to the justice system.
However, prosecutors countered that Underwood’s actions were not the result of mental illness but rather driven by deviant desires and calculated violence. They emphasized that Underwood was dangerous because he was intelligent, organized, and motivated by a deep desire to harm others.
Before his execution, Underwood offered an apology to Jamie’s family, expressing remorse for his actions. Despite his apology, Jamie’s sister, Lori Pate, acknowledged that the execution could not bring Jamie back but offered thanks to those involved in securing justice for her family. “This does not bring our Jamie back, but it does allow the space in our hearts to focus on her and allow the healing process to begin,” Pate said.
The execution marks the final legal execution in the United States for 2024.
