Timothy McVeigh

Timothy James McVeigh (April 23, 1968 – June 11, 2001), considered by the FBI an American domestic terrorist, was executed for his part in the April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City bombing. Hundreds were injured and 167 men, women and children died when a truck loaded with improvised explosives was detonated in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building as federal offices began business for the day. Later a 168th victim died when a huge chunk of concrete crushed a rescue worker.

Death

McVeigh was convicted on June 2, 1997 in a United States District Court for the murder of eight federal employees who died in the explosion. The same jury on June 13th recommended that McVeigh receive the death penalty http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/june97/mcveigh_6-13.html. Justice Department prosecutors could not bring charges against McVeigh for most of the murders because those deaths fell under the jurisdiction of the state of Oklahoma.

Related Topics:
June 2 - 1997

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His death sentence was delayed pending an appeal. One of his appeals made it to the Supreme Court of the United States, which on March 8, 1999 upheld his murder convictions. McVeigh was finally executed 2 years later, at 7am on June 11, 2001, by lethal injection at the U.S. Federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, at the age of 33, after having dropped all of his existing appeals, whilst presenting no reason for doing so.

Related Topics:
Supreme Court of the United States - Terre Haute, Indiana

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

McVeigh had invited California conductor/composer David Woodard to perform a prequiem on the eve of his execution, and he had also requested the Catholic chaplain. Ave Atque Vale was performed under Woodard's baton by a local brass choir at St. Margaret Mary Church, located near the Terre Haute penitentiary, at 7pm on June 10, to a listenership that included the entirety of the next morning's witnesses. McVeigh chose William Ernest Henley's poem "Invictus" as his final statement. His final meal consisted of 2 pints of Ben and Jerry's mint chocolate chip ice cream. It was the first execution of a convicted criminal by the US Federal Government since the execution of Victor Feguer in Iowa on March 15, 1963.

Related Topics:
William Ernest Henley - Invictus - Ben and Jerry - Victor Feguer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His body was disposed of by cremation in the retort at Mattox Ryan Funeral home in Terre Haute under the direction of funeral director Kevin Nickles. The cremated remains were then given to his lawyer for disposition.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~