Execution date set for Michael Ryan

By:  Newsroom
8@klkntv.com

The Nebraska Supreme Court has set a March 6 execution date for Ryan.

Ryan is on death row for killing two people in 1985 at a religious cult camp near Rulo, Nebraska.  The high court set the date Wednesday afternoon.   

“In light of today's Nebraska Supreme Court ruling setting the execution date for Mr. Ryan, the State will make all necessary preparations to carry out the sentence,” said Attorney General Bruning.

The 63-year-old Ryan tortured and killed James Thimm and was also convicted of killing 5-year-old Luke Stice, the son of a cult member.

Ryan recently challenged the legality of the state's acquisition of the lethal injection drug sodium thiopental.  The court dismissed the challenge.  

Ryan could become the first person executed by lethal injection in Nebraska. The state adopted the execution method in 2009 after the electric chair was ruled unconstitutional.