State Of Missouri Carries Out Execution Of Christopher Collings
Introduction
On July 16th, 2023, the state of Missouri carried out the execution of Christopher Collings, a 46-year-old inmate convicted of murdering three people in 2004. Collings' execution marked the first in Missouri since 2020 and the first under Governor Mike Parson.
Background of the Crime
In 2004, Collings brutally murdered three people: Dannie Gibson, a 73-year-old Navy veteran; Jewel Gibson, Dannie's 66-year-old wife; and their 10-year-old granddaughter, Christin. The victims were found bludgeoned to death in their rural home in St. Louis County.
Collings was arrested shortly after the murders and subsequently convicted on three counts of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to death in 2005.
Legal Proceedings and Appeals
Collings' conviction and death sentence were upheld through multiple appeals, including at the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2022, the Missouri Supreme Court rejected Collings' final appeal, clearing the way for his execution.
Collings' attorneys argued that he was intellectually disabled and therefore should not be eligible for the death penalty. However, the courts rejected this argument, ruling that Collings' IQ was not low enough to meet the standard of intellectual disability.
Execution Details
Collings was executed by lethal injection at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic, and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Missouri. Witnesses reported that Collings did not make any final statements and died without incident.
His execution was carried out at 8:01 a.m. CDT, and he was pronounced dead at 8:07 a.m.
Reactions and Controversy
The execution of Christopher Collings has sparked mixed reactions. Supporters of the death penalty argued that Collings had committed heinous crimes and deserved the ultimate punishment.
Opponents of the death penalty criticized the execution, saying that it was cruel and unusual punishment and that it did not deter crime. They also expressed concerns about the possibility of executing an innocent person.
In response to the controversy, Governor Parson issued a statement saying that the execution "brought justice to the Gibson family and closure to this horrific crime."
Conclusion
The execution of Christopher Collings is a complex and controversial issue. It raises important questions about the role of the death penalty in modern society and the balance between justice and compassion.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to support the death penalty is a personal one that each individual must make for themselves.