On Guard

Timothy Wayne Adams was executed in Texas on February 22nd, 2011

The execution of Timothy Wayne Adams took place about 35 minutes after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a final appeal from Adams.

Adams, 42, declined to make a final statement, shaking his head no when asked if he had any final words.

Before the lethal drugs were administered, he mouthed some words to his parents and brother and sister, who witnessed the execution. Adams kept his gaze on his family members and never looked at Timothy Jr.'s mother and her family, who watched the execution from a different room than his relatives.

He let out a series of gasps after the lethal injection took effect. Ten minutes later, at 6:31 p.m. CST, he was pronounced dead. May he rest in peace.

Frank Spisak was executed in Ohio on February 17th, 2011

Frank Spisak chose to read Bible verses in German for a final statement, and was pronounced dead shortly after 10:30 am following an injection of sodium thiopental. Spisak, 59, set the Ohio record for the longest time on death row before execution, at more than 27 years. Spisak read the first seven Bible verses from chapter seven of the book of Revelations from a hand-written yellow paper held over his head by a prison official, speaking in a halting voice and sometimes having trouble reading the verses: "I can't read it, it's too blurry, I can't read it," he said at one point. May he rest in peace.

Michael Anthony Hall was executed in Texas on February 15th, 2011

Michael Anthony Hall was executed after last minute appeals were turned down.

"I would like to give my sincere apology to Amy's family," Hall said as he was strapped to the death chamber gurney. "We caused a lot of heartache, grief, pain and suffering, and I am sorry. I know it won't bring her back."

Speaking just above a whisper, his voice shaking and eyes watery, Hall said he wasn't the same person and repeatedly asked for forgiveness. Relatives of his victim stood a few feet away, looking through a window.

"I am not crying for myself, I am crying for the lost and those that are dying for their sins," he said. "I've been locked up 13 years. I am not locked up inside. All these years I have been free. Christ has changed me. Here I am, a big strong youngster, crying like a baby. I am man enough to show my emotions and I am sorry.

"I am sorry for everything. I wish I could take it back, but I can't."

Nine minutes later, he was pronounced dead. May he rest in peace.

Martin Link was executed in Missouri on February 9th, 2011

Martin Link was pronounced dead at 12:15 am (0615 GMT), 14 minutes after being given a lethal injection at Bonne Terre prison, the Missouri Department of Corrections said. It was the state's first execution in two years and its second since late 2005.  Gov. Jay Nixon on Monday denied clemency and the courts on Tuesday refused to halt the execution. Martin was first sentenced to death in 1995. May he rest in peace.