GUILTY TN - Executes Billy Ray Irick by lethal injection for rape & murder of Paula Dyer age 7

[EuTuCroquet?]

Tennessee executes Billy Ray Irick, first lethal injection in state since 2009

Death row inmate Billy Ray Irick died at 7:48 p.m. Thursday after Tennessee prison officials administered a lethal dose of toxic chemicals. He was 59.

His execution, the first in Tennessee since 2009, comes after his 1986 conviction in Knox County for the rape and murder of 7-year-old Paula Dyer.

Witnesses to the execution included members of Paula's family, Knox County Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones, Tennessee Deputy Attorney General Scott Sutherland, Irick's attorney Gene Shiles and seven members of the media.
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[glamourkitty1922]

It's about time.

 

[Jennifer17]

What is the point of that, after he lived for over thirty years more than his victim?

 

[neesaki]

What is the point of that, after he lived for over thirty years more than his victim?

I tend to agree, what's the point? If someone really is so bad they deserve the death penalty, it shouldn't take thirty plus years. But then I'm not really a death penalty advocate considering the misconduct by prosecutors and gross errors that occur in the justice system, resulting in innocent people being put to death for a crime they didn't commit. A very scary situation, IMO.

 

[Jennifer17]

I tend to agree, what's the point? If someone really is so bad they deserve the death penalty, it shouldn't take thirty plus years. But then I'm not really a death penalty advocate considering the misconduct by prosecutors and gross errors that occur in the justice system, resulting in innocent people being put to death for a crime they didn't commit. A very scary situation, IMO.

He quite likely lived longer inside, than we would have, outside.

 

[Hazelnutty]

It's about time.

 

[trigger]

Lethal injection is to easy.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.knoxnews.com/amp/931268002

 

[watcher9]

Finally justice for Paula.
Something needs to change. It never should take over 30 years.

More links - second one has picture of Paula.

Billy Ray Irick executed for the 1985 murder of 7-year-old Paula Dyer

Billy Ray Irick executed for the 1985 murder of 7-year-old Paula Dyer

 

[musicaljoke]

In this world there will never be real justice for Paula, and killing him did not make the situation better. The crime was horrible, but state sanctioned murder is horrible too.

 

[Gardenista]

I don't believe in the death penalty, but it is the law in TN. IMO, if the guy was really sorry (like he said in his last words), he would have taken his sentence many years ago.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

For Some Death Row Inmates, Kelley Henry Is the Last Line of Defense

 

[JerseyGirl]

Tennessee death row inmates raise using firing squad in new execution lawsuit

In a new legal challenge to Tennessee's execution process, death row offenders say using a firing squad would be more humane than the state's current lethal injection method.

The federal lawsuit, filed Tuesday, says the state tortured Billy Ray Irick to death when he was injected with toxic chemicals and argues using the same drugs in another execution would violate constitutional bans on cruel and unusual punishment.

 

[Sillybilly]

ADMIN REMINDER:

General discussion of the DP is not allowed. It is one of those social justice issues that leads to nothing but bickering.

The DP exists. Period. No amount of pro/con discussion of personal opinions at Websleuths is going to change that.

Discuss it ONLY as it relates to the specific case that is the topic of this thread.

Thanks.

 

[watcher9]

Paula Dyer's loved ones have never been able to forget the brutal details of how she suffered. They don't have to be reminded Irick was babysitting Paula and four of her brothers the night he killed her. The boys were helplessly trapped in a bedroom and could hear Paula's screams as Irick raped, sodomized, and suffocated the life from her broken body.

"The boys tried to get to her and help but couldn't because the door was barricaded. They still have nightmares. Everybody that has been tied to this, in one way or another, is a victim of Billy Irick. My family lived through it. Now my grandchildren are living through it. It has been 30-something years and it is still going on. The suffering just doesn't stop," said Kathy Jeffers.

Remembering Why: Rape and murder of 7-year-old Paula Dyer | wbir.com

 

[worm]

This guy was 30 plus years old when he done this? That certainly isn’t a youthful error like so many that end up on death row.