June 11, 2001--
Just a few hours after Timothy
McVeigh's execution,
members of the Utah media
were getting a tour of Utah's
death chamber in preparation
for the execution of Elroy Tillman.
Tillman was convicted of beating a man to death in
1982.
Almost twenty years later he is scheduled to be
executed on June 24th at 12:01 a.m. Crime Specialist
Karen Scullin looked at the death chamber today, and
has this report.
A commutation hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.
The outcome could potentially change Tillman's
sentence from death to life in prison.
But for now,
prison officials have a death warrant and are
proceeding forward with the planned execution.
It will take two to four minutes for Elroy Tillman to die
on a gurney by lethal injection.
Tillman has been on
death row for eighteen years, but is now scheduled to
die in just under three weeks.
Clint Friel/Warden, Utah State
Prison: THEY GO THROUGH A LOT OF
CHANGES, A LOT OF EMOTIONS. IT'S
HARD TO SAY WHAT THEIR FEELINGS ARE
GOING TO BE TODAY, AND WHAT THEIR
FEELINGS WERE YESTERDAY.
Tillman is described as quiet and generally keeps to
himself.
But in the hours before his execution, he will
come in direct contact with family members in the
observation cell. It's the cell where Tillman will get his
last meal, visit with clergy, and where he'll be under
constant observation by prison guards until fifteen
minutes before he is scheduled to die.
At that time he
will be escorted into the death chamber.
Clint Friel/Warden, Utah State
Prison: HE'LL BE STRAPPED DOWN. AND
THE I.V'S WILL BE PLACED IN HIS
ARMS."
After witnesses are brought into rooms that surround
the chamber, the warden will ask Tillman if he has any
last words
Warden: WE FEEL IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY, IS TO DO THIS
PROFESSIONALLY BUT ALSO TO GIVE HIM
THE DIGINITY AS A HUMAN BEING.
From behind this wall, the executioners will release
three solutions into Tillman-- one will put him to sleep,
one will stop his heart, the other will stop his
breathing.
But up until 12:01, the Attorney General
has the ability to stop the entire process.
Jack Ford/Utah Dept. of
Corrections: JUST BEFORE THE
EXECUTION PROCESS THE EXEC. DIR.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT WILL PICK UP THE
PHONE AND ASK IF THERE'S BEEN A
LAST MINUTE STAY OF EXECUTION, OR
ASK IF THERE'S ANY REASON WHY WE
SHOULDN'T PROCEED.
A commutation hearing before the State Board of
Pardons is set for tomorrow morning. Again, that
could result in a stay for Tillman.
The hearing is
scheduled to last four days, the ruling coming from the
Board of Pardons on Friday.
