Jackson, Georgia – Willie James Pye, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the abduction, rape, and murder of his former girlfriend in 1993, was executed on Wednesday night at a prison in Jackson, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections. Pye’s execution marked the first in the state since 2020 and occurred amid legal challenges and a clemency request.
Despite pleas from Pye’s lawyers citing his intellectual disability and inadequate legal representation, the execution proceeded after the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request to stay the process. The Georgia parole board also denied a clemency request earlier in the week. Pye, 59, declined to make a final statement before his execution, during which he received visits from family members, a clergy member, and an attorney.
Georgia utilizes pentobarbital as the sedative in lethal injections, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Nathan Potek, one of Pye’s attorneys, criticized Pye’s initial lawyer as “racist and incompetent.” Pye, who had an IQ of 70, was defended by an attorney who handled a high volume of cases each year.
Before the tragic events leading to his arrest, Pye had been involved in a sporadic romantic relationship with Alicia Lynn Yarbrough, court documents reveal. Alongside two accomplices, Pye went on to rob Yarbrough at gunpoint in her home, leading to her abduction, rape, and eventual murder. Pye’s claims of Yarbrough engaging in voluntary activities were dismissed by judges due to unreliable witness testimonies.
The state of Georgia had temporarily halted executions in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Presently, the state has 35 men and one woman awaiting execution on death row, as stated by the corrections department. Despite ongoing debates regarding the death penalty, Pye’s case highlights the complexities and ethical considerations surrounding capital punishment in the United States.