First Federal Execution in 17 Years To Take Place Today

The Court of Appeals approved the first federal execution in over 17 years which is expected to take place today. 47-year-old Daniel Lewis Lee was convicted in Arkansas for the 1996 murders of gun dealer William Mueller, his wife, Nancy, and her 8-year-old daughter, Sarah Powell. He is ordered to die by lethal injection today however, a chief district judge ruled on Friday it be delayed out of concerns for the victim’s families during the coronavirus. Many would be traveling thousands of miles to Indiana to witness and grieve and the judge wanted to grant them a little time to receive reasonable and safe accommodations during their journeys. However, the Appeals Court determined these claims “lacked any arguable legal basis and were therefore frivolous.” They further added the family’s concerns “do not outweigh the public interest in finally carrying out the lawfully imposed sentence in this case.” Certain safety precautions will be enforced for those who plan to attend today.