Atlanta, Georgia – The state of Georgia has carried out its first execution in four years, putting an end to the life of Willie James Pye, 59, at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson by lethal injection. Pye was convicted of the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Alicia Yarbrough, in 1993, marking the first execution in the state since 2020.
Prior to his execution, Pye requested a last meal consisting of two chicken sandwiches, two cheeseburgers, french fries, two bags of plain chips, and two lemon-lime sodas. Despite efforts from his public defenders claiming Pye’s intellectual disability with an IQ of 68 and a troubled upbringing in a violent family environment, the Georgia Parole Board denied clemency for Pye on Tuesday.
The grim details of Yarbrough’s murder revealed a sinister plan by Pye, Chester Adams, and a teenage accomplice to rob Yarbrough’s boyfriend, leading to a series of brutal acts including kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, and ultimately murder. Yarbrough was taken from her home and subjected to horrific violence before being shot three times on an isolated dirt road.
Pye, Adams, and the teenager were swiftly apprehended, leading to Pye’s conviction and subsequent death sentence in 1996. With Pye becoming the 54th inmate in Georgia to be executed by lethal injection, his final moments included accepting a final prayer without leaving a recorded statement.
The execution of Pye highlights the complex and controversial nature of capital punishment in the United States, raising questions about factors such as intellectual disability, upbringing, and the gravity of the crimes committed. As Georgia breaks its four-year hiatus in carrying out executions, the debate surrounding the death penalty continues to spark discussions on justice, morality, and the ultimate price for heinous actions.