The state of Missouri has executed a man who was found guilty of killing his girlfriend and three children after a last-minute appeal to the Supreme Court.
Leonard Taylor, 58, was convicted of the murders of Angela Rowe and her three daughters Alexus Conley, 10; AcQreya Conley, 6; and Tyrese Conley, 5, which took place in November 2004 at her home in Jennings, Missouri.
When Taylor was administered 5 grams of pentobarbital, he took five or six deep breaths before going still.
Taylor said in a final statement that Muslims do not die but “live eternally in the hearts of our family and friends.”
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Leonard Taylor, 58, was convicted of the murders of Angela Rowe and her three daughters Alexus Conley, 10; AcQreya Conley, 6; and Tyrese Conley, 5, which took place in November 2004 at her home in Jennings, Missouri. (Missouri Department of Corrections)
“Death is not your enemy, it is your destiny. Dare to know it. Peace!” Taylor wrote.
A spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Corrections told Fox News Digital that Taylor’s last meal consisted of “a seafood platter with shrimp, French fries, a cheeseburger, cheesecake, and vanilla ice cream.”
Taylor claimed that he was in California when the four people were killed and that he was not in Missouri when the bodies were found. She took a flight to California on November 26, 2004.
The four bodies were found on December 6, 2004 after relatives told police they had not heard from Rowe recently.
While a medical examiner initially found that the deaths likely occurred a few days after the discovery of the bodies, when Taylor was in California, medical examiner Phillip Burch said the murders could have occurred two to three weeks before the bodies were discovered. .
Her attorney, Kent Gipson, said multiple people saw Rowe after Taylor left for California. Deja Taylor, Taylor’s daughter who lived in California, said in a court filing that she called Rowe with her father during the time she was there. Deja Taylor’s sister and mother also corroborated her story, according to the court filing.
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The St. Louis County prosecutor at the time of the murders, Bob McCulloch, said that the alibis provided by Deja Taylor and other family members were “completely fabricated.”
McCulloch said Rowe and her children were likely killed on Nov. 22 or 23 when Taylor was still in St. Louis, noting that Rowe didn’t send texts or calls after Nov. 23, when she typically made 70 calls or messages. of text. per day.
The prosecutor said Taylor’s brother told police he admitted to the crime, a relative taking Taylor to the airport saw Taylor throw a gun down a sewer, and Rowe’s blood DNA was found on Taylor’s glasses when was arrested.
Taylor was found guilty on February 29, 2008 of four counts of first degree murder.
Angela Rowe’s sister, Gerauan Rowe, said justice was served after the execution.
“I’m at a point in my life right now: I’m okay, but I’m not,” he said. “But I know justice was done. It’s a little hard trying to move forward, but I think I can do it.”
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Republican Gov. Mike Parson refused to grant Taylor a clemency Monday, saying the facts of “guilty” remain.
“Despite his selfish claim of innocence, the facts of his guilt in this appalling quadruple homicide remain,” Parson said. “The State of Missouri will carry out Taylor’s sentences in accordance with the Court’s order and bring justice for the four innocent lives he stole.”
Derrick Johnson, president of the national NAACP, wrote a letter asking Parson to grant a stay of execution, writing that “the evidence presented at trial does not support Mr. Taylor’s conviction.”
The US Supreme Court refused to stop the execution after a request by Gipson on Tuesday, who also filed a stay request with the Missouri Supreme Court, which was denied.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
