Outside the Beltway

Killer Who Wanted to Donate Liver Executed

James Joyner · Wednesday, May 25, 2005 · 4 comments

Gregory Scott Johnson, a death row inmate who wanted to donate his liver to his ailing sister before being executed, was put to death with his liver intact, precluding a transplant.

Killer Who Wanted to Donate Liver Executed (AP)

A convicted murderer who sought a reprieve so he could donate part of his liver to his ailing sister was executed early Wednesday. Gregory Scott Johnson died by injection at 12:28 a.m. for beating and stomping an 82-year-old woman to death in 1985, then setting her house on fire to hide the crime. His only words before being executed were: “Everyone has been professional.”

Gov. Mitch Daniels rejected Johnson’s request for a reprieve Tuesday, clearing the way for his death at the Indiana State Prison. The Supreme Court also denied a stay of execution. Daniels said he found “no grounds to second guess years of court rulings or to reject the recommendation of the parole board.” The governor said he accepted the sincerity of Johnson’s motivation in trying to donate part of his liver, but that medical experts had advised against it.

In a handwritten note released after he was executed, Johnson wrote: “There are those who claim that Debbie will have a new liver three weeks after being placed on the list. I’ll be watching from above and expect her to be recuperating at that time.”

Quite bizarre.

For background, see Death Row Inmate Can’t Donate Organs — Too Expensive.