Wesley Ira Purkey’s Agonizing Execution Raises Ethical Concerns Over Lethal Injection

In 2020, Wesley Ira Purkey, a convicted murderer on federal death row, was executed by lethal injection after a harrowing series of crimes—and a tragic misstep involving his last meal. His case, though officially closed, continues to spark national debate about the ethics of capital punishment, particularly the use of pentobarbital, a drug that medical experts say can lead to excruciating suffering.

A Heinous Double Murder That Shocked the Nation

Purkey, aged 68 at the time of his execution, had been convicted of two brutal murders committed in 1998. The first involved 16-year-old Jennifer Long, a Kansas schoolgirl last seen after skipping lessons on January 22. Purkey lured her into his pickup truck outside a supermarket, drove her to his home, and subjected her to rape and murder. He then dismembered her body with a chainsaw, burned the remains, and disposed of her crushed bones in a septic pond in an attempt to destroy evidence.

Later that same year, Purkey—working as a plumber—bludgeoned 80-year-old Mary Bales to death with a claw hammer. He returned to the scene in an attempt to set the house on fire, but was seen by neighbors who reported the suspicious behavior to authorities. Police later arrested him, and he pleaded guilty to Bales’ murder.

A Grim Bargain Gone Wrong

While serving a life sentence in state prison, Purkey volunteered information about Jennifer Long’s murder, hoping to be moved to federal custody. However, he failed to secure any agreement regarding sentencing. The result: he was federally prosecuted and ultimately sentenced to death for Long’s murder.

A Painful End: What the Autopsy Revealed

On the day of his execution in July 2020, Purkey received a lethal injection of pentobarbital, the standard drug used in federal executions. However, post-mortem findings painted a disturbing picture. According to his autopsy, Purkey experienced “severe bilateral acute pulmonary oedema” and “frothy pulmonary oedema in the trachea and main stem bronchi”—a condition where fluid floods the lungs and airways rapidly.

<blockquote>“It is a virtual medical certainty that most, if not all, prisoners will experience excruciating suffering, including sensations of drowning and suffocation from [the lethal injection drug] pentobarbital,” said Dr. Gail Van Norman in an interview with News.com.au.</blockquote>

His Final Words: Regret, Apology, and a Quiet Protest

In his final moments, Purkey expressed remorse for the pain he had inflicted.

<blockquote>“I deeply regret the pain and suffering I caused to Jennifer’s family. I am deeply sorry. I deeply regret the pain I caused to my daughter, who I love so very much,”</blockquote> he said. <blockquote>“This sanitized murder really does not serve no purpose whatsoever.”</blockquote>

Questions of Mental Fitness and Execution Ethics

In the lead-up to his execution, attorneys raised serious concerns about Purkey’s mental state. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Purkey reportedly experienced delusions and confusion. One disturbing moment the night before his death illustrated this: according to AP News, he watched former President Bill Clinton on television and remarked that he planned to vote for him in the next election—clearly unaware that Clinton was no longer a candidate.

A Last Meal Mistake That Added Tragedy

Adding to the somberness of the event was an emotional oversight: Purkey requested pecan pie for his last meal, but asked to have it “later”, not realizing that no “later” would come. That small misunderstanding became a symbolic reminder of the procedural coldness surrounding executions.