Witnesses describe Carey Dean Moore execution

Posted By: Rachael Miner

rminer@klkntv.com

Almost 39 years after robbing and killing two Omaha cab drivers Carey Dean Moore was put to death Tuesday morning at the Nebraska State Penitentiary.

Moore, the state’s longest serving death row inmate, was killed using a cocktail of four drugs. He was the first in Nebraska to die by lethal injection.

"The first of four substances was administered at 10:24 am. The Lancaster County Coroner produced Moore’s time of death at 10:47 a.m," said Director of Nebraska Department of Corrections Scott R. Frakes.

Ten people witnessed Moore’s death, four being members of the Nebraska media, two Nebraska Department of Corrections staffers, a clergyman, and three witnesses of Moore’s choosing.

At 9 a.m., just an hour before Moore was set to die he was read his execution warrant.

Joe Duggan, one of media witnesses described Moore’s demeanor as the warrant was read, "The gravity of what was happening to him was clear on his face and his expression I would say."

About an hour later witnesses were taken into the execution viewing area.

A green curtain went up showing the execution, but at times went back down preventing them from viewing the entire process.

Moore was laid and strapped to a table, where he mouthed his last words to his witnesses.

"He turned his head left and mouthed several words to it appears a number of witnesses including the words I love you, he said that at 10:25 a.m.," said Grant Shulte, another witness to the execution. 

Five minutes after the drugs were administered through an IV Moore was checked for consciousness.

Witnesses said he coughed several times before going still, and it was then that his face gradually turning from red to purple.

About 15 minutes after the execution began Moore was pronounced dead.

The witnesses said there did not appear to be any complications with the execution.

Moore’s body will be handed over to the Nebraska State Patrol and an autopsy will be performed