Daryl Holton, convicted for killing three young sons and stepdaughter, was pronounced dead at 1:25 a.m. Wednesday.
Holton was executed in the electric chair at Riverbend Maximum Security Prison. He was the first death-row inmate in Tennessee since 1960 to die in the electric chair.
Holton's final words were "I do."
Holton of Shelbyville was convicted in 1999 for killing Stephen Holton, 12; Brent Holton, 10; Eric Holton, 6; and 4-year-old Kayla Holton in November 1997.
Holton was given four death sentences.
Lisa Helton of the Tennessee Attorney General's Office read a statement on behalf of the children's mother, Crystal Holton.
Holton said that "all the anger, hatred and a long time of nightmares" she's had had can now be "replaced by all the sweet love only a child can give.
"I will always have that love times four," Holton said.
She thanked staff in the state Attorney General's office, who she said understood "why there were four reasons to do all they could."
She also acknowledged Daryl Holton's mother who she said she still loved. She said it hurt to think about her ex mother-in-law's sorrow of losing four grandchildren and a son.
"This morning he is free of the demons that haunted him," said Daryl Holton's attorney David Raybin, who was present for the electrocution.
Raybin said Holton "walked to the chair with dignity and accepted what was happening.
"I think what is important for him, as a man, was the way he lived and served his country honorably and not the way he died," Raybin said.
Several people gathered near the prison to protest the execution. The demonstration was very peaceful. Several people prayed for Holton and his family and the victims. Representatives of both sides of the capital punishment argument said they considered the pain he caused and the family he leaves behind to deal with the residual emotion of his actions. Earlier in the night, Holton refused a special last meal, opting to eat what other inmates received Tuesday night, which was riblets on a bun, mixed vegetable, baked beans, white cake with white icing and iced tea.
A spiritual adviser, who was present to witness the execution, counseled Holton earlier in the day.
Even though lethal injection is the primary method of execution in Tennessee, any inmate whose offense occurred prior to Jan. 1, 1999 is given the choice of lethal injection or electrocution. Holton chose the electric chair.
Holton was executed in the electric chair at Riverbend Maximum Security Prison. He was the first death-row inmate in Tennessee since 1960 to die in the electric chair.
Holton's final words were "I do."
Holton of Shelbyville was convicted in 1999 for killing Stephen Holton, 12; Brent Holton, 10; Eric Holton, 6; and 4-year-old Kayla Holton in November 1997.
Holton was given four death sentences.
Lisa Helton of the Tennessee Attorney General's Office read a statement on behalf of the children's mother, Crystal Holton.
Holton said that "all the anger, hatred and a long time of nightmares" she's had had can now be "replaced by all the sweet love only a child can give.
"I will always have that love times four," Holton said.
She thanked staff in the state Attorney General's office, who she said understood "why there were four reasons to do all they could."
She also acknowledged Daryl Holton's mother who she said she still loved. She said it hurt to think about her ex mother-in-law's sorrow of losing four grandchildren and a son.
"This morning he is free of the demons that haunted him," said Daryl Holton's attorney David Raybin, who was present for the electrocution.
Raybin said Holton "walked to the chair with dignity and accepted what was happening.
"I think what is important for him, as a man, was the way he lived and served his country honorably and not the way he died," Raybin said.
Several people gathered near the prison to protest the execution. The demonstration was very peaceful. Several people prayed for Holton and his family and the victims. Representatives of both sides of the capital punishment argument said they considered the pain he caused and the family he leaves behind to deal with the residual emotion of his actions. Earlier in the night, Holton refused a special last meal, opting to eat what other inmates received Tuesday night, which was riblets on a bun, mixed vegetable, baked beans, white cake with white icing and iced tea.
A spiritual adviser, who was present to witness the execution, counseled Holton earlier in the day.
Even though lethal injection is the primary method of execution in Tennessee, any inmate whose offense occurred prior to Jan. 1, 1999 is given the choice of lethal injection or electrocution. Holton chose the electric chair.
Daryl Holton, convicted for killing three young sons and stepdaughter, was pronounced dead at 1:25 a.m. Wednesday.
Holton was executed in the electric chair at Riverbend Maximum Security Prison. He was the first death-row inmate in Tennessee since 1960 to die in the electric chair.
Holton's final words were "I do."
Holton of Shelbyville was convicted in 1999 for killing Stephen Holton, 12; Brent Holton, 10; Eric Holton, 6; and 4-year-old Kayla Holton in November 1997.
Holton was given four death sentences.
Lisa Helton of the Tennessee Attorney General's Office read a statement on behalf of the children's mother, Crystal Holton.
Holton said that "all the anger, hatred and a long time of nightmares" she's had had can now be "replaced by all the sweet love only a child can give.
"I will always have that love times four," Holton said.
She thanked staff in the state Attorney General's office, who she said understood "why there were four reasons to do all they could."
She also acknowledged Daryl Holton's mother who she said she still loved. She said it hurt to think about her ex mother-in-law's sorrow of losing four grandchildren and a son.
"This morning he is free of the demons that haunted him," said Daryl Holton's attorney David Raybin, who was present for the electrocution.
Raybin said Holton "walked to the chair with dignity and accepted what was happening.
"I think what is important for him, as a man, was the way he lived and served his country honorably and not the way he died," Raybin said.
Several people gathered near the prison to protest the execution. The demonstration was very peaceful. Several people prayed for Holton and his family and the victims. Representatives of both sides of the capital punishment argument said they considered the pain he caused and the family he leaves behind to deal with the residual emotion of his actions. Earlier in the night, Holton refused a special last meal, opting to eat what other inmates received Tuesday night, which was riblets on a bun, mixed vegetable, baked beans, white cake with white icing and iced tea.
A spiritual adviser, who was present to witness the execution, counseled Holton earlier in the day.
Even though lethal injection is the primary method of execution in Tennessee, any inmate whose offense occurred prior to Jan. 1, 1999 is given the choice of lethal injection or electrocution. Holton chose the electric chair.
Holton was executed in the electric chair at Riverbend Maximum Security Prison. He was the first death-row inmate in Tennessee since 1960 to die in the electric chair.
Holton's final words were "I do."
Holton of Shelbyville was convicted in 1999 for killing Stephen Holton, 12; Brent Holton, 10; Eric Holton, 6; and 4-year-old Kayla Holton in November 1997.
Holton was given four death sentences.
Lisa Helton of the Tennessee Attorney General's Office read a statement on behalf of the children's mother, Crystal Holton.
Holton said that "all the anger, hatred and a long time of nightmares" she's had had can now be "replaced by all the sweet love only a child can give.
"I will always have that love times four," Holton said.
She thanked staff in the state Attorney General's office, who she said understood "why there were four reasons to do all they could."
She also acknowledged Daryl Holton's mother who she said she still loved. She said it hurt to think about her ex mother-in-law's sorrow of losing four grandchildren and a son.
"This morning he is free of the demons that haunted him," said Daryl Holton's attorney David Raybin, who was present for the electrocution.
Raybin said Holton "walked to the chair with dignity and accepted what was happening.
"I think what is important for him, as a man, was the way he lived and served his country honorably and not the way he died," Raybin said.
Several people gathered near the prison to protest the execution. The demonstration was very peaceful. Several people prayed for Holton and his family and the victims. Representatives of both sides of the capital punishment argument said they considered the pain he caused and the family he leaves behind to deal with the residual emotion of his actions. Earlier in the night, Holton refused a special last meal, opting to eat what other inmates received Tuesday night, which was riblets on a bun, mixed vegetable, baked beans, white cake with white icing and iced tea.
A spiritual adviser, who was present to witness the execution, counseled Holton earlier in the day.
Even though lethal injection is the primary method of execution in Tennessee, any inmate whose offense occurred prior to Jan. 1, 1999 is given the choice of lethal injection or electrocution. Holton chose the electric chair.
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