PARCHMAN, MS (abc24.com) - Mississippi murderer Jan Michael Brawner was put to death by lethal injection at 6:18 p.m. Tuesday, June 12 at the state penitentiary.
In 2001 Brawner shot and killed his 3-year-old daughter, ex-wife and her parents. After the murders he stole $300 and his former mother-in-law's wedding ring, using it to propose to his new girlfriend later that day.
The killings happened in the small town of Sarah in rural Tate County near Senatobia.
Mississippi Department of Correction officers say Brawner ate three full meals, including a special dinner of his request of two pizzas, sweet tea and ice cream. Brawner spoke to correction officers several times before the execution, openly describing the murders.
MDOC Commissioner Christopher Epps said Brawner was in a "decent mood, not somber or down."
Epps sat down with Brawner Tuesday, asking him to explain why he killed his 3-year-old daughter, ex-wife and her parents.
Brawner told him "he was full of stress," Epps said, and a divorce and restraining order "broke him down."
Eleven years later, friends of the victims in the small town of Sarah haven't forgotten what happened.
Resident Pam Gentile said, "When you mention it and you think about it, it will still affect your heart." Her friend Johnny Cummins said there's still "a lot of hurt."
Gentile and Cummins find the murders still hard to talk about. Remembering hurts.
"You think about it every time you go by… If he's being executed actually that's a light sentence to him for me, pretty much."
The two don't believe Brawner's execution will bring closure, but it will be a welcome end to 10 years of pain.
Epps said Brawner wanted to make a final statement this evening, an apology to the family. "He said his last statement will be let them know how sorry he is for what he's done."
Gentile said, "He's getting what he deserves, probably should be worse if it could get any worse than that. Maybe he'll burn in hell."
Brawner had an appeal denied by the Mississippi Supreme Court Monday. Tuesday morning his lawyers filed with the U.S. Supreme Court, who denied the stay.
