theadanews.com - Ada, Oklahoma

State News

November 8, 2012

Oklahoma inmate executed for fiancee’s 1986 killing

The Ada News

McAlester —  

An Oklahoma man who was put to death Tuesday evening despite claims that he was insane spent his final moments rambling about the presidential election and appeared startled when a prison official announced the start of the execution.

Garry Thomas Allen, 56, was executed for the 1986 killing of his fiancee, 24-year-old Lawanna Gail Titsworth, outside an Oklahoma City day care. His attorneys had argued that Allen shouldn’t be put to death because he couldn’t understand the judgment against him.

Allen appeared confused moments after prison officials lifted a curtain separating the death chamber from witnesses. Slurring his words, Allen spoke for two minutes in an address that mentioned both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. His execution was held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, one hour before polls closed in Oklahoma.

“Obama won two out of three counties,” Allen said. “It’s going to be a very close race.”

At 6:02 p.m., a prison official announced that the execution was about to begin.

 

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