Witnesses reported that Smith repeatedly insisted, “I didn’t kill her,” just before he became unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at 10:47 a.m. local time.
Governor Lee had temporarily halted Smith’s execution in 2022 due to concerns about the state’s lethal injection protocols.
However, the decision was later reversed following an investigation that found the state could resume executions under revised procedures.
Victims’ Family Responds
In a public statement following the execution, the victims’ family expressed a mixture of relief and enduring sorrow.
Terri Osborne, sister of Judith Robirds Smith, thanked law enforcement and prosecutors for pursuing justice over the years, but said her family’s pain remains.
