MCALESTER, Okla. — Kevin Ray Underwood was executed on Dec. 19 at 10:14 a.m.
Underwood killed Jamie Rose Bolin in 2006 in Purcell. He raped and tortured her before her death and planned a cannibalistic fantasy before police arrested him.
"This does not bring our Jamie back, but it does allow the space in our hearts to focus on her and allow the healing process to begin," said Jamie's sister Lori Pate.
Right after the execution, Pate took tie to thank the people involved in prosecuting the case especially District Attorney Greg Mashburn.
"I'm hopeful that now that this process is over that the family will be able to not worry about Kevin Underwood or think about him anymore that they'll be able remember Jamie and all the joy that she brought," said Mashburn.
Just ten minutes after Underwood's execution started, a doctor declared him dead at 10:14am.
AP reporter Sean Murphy watched the execution and said Underwood's last words were remorseful.
"He said, I would like to apologize again for all the terrible things I did. I hate that I did those things and wish I could take them back."
"The death penalty in Oklahoma is reserved for the worst of the worst and this case was exactly that," said Mashburn.
Mashburn says the process leading up to the execution has been a roller coaster ride for the family.
After a series of delays, his clemency hearing took place last week and his original confession played again for the board.
"It definitely threw curveballs to an already frustrating process," said Mashburn.
They denied his clemency.
WATCH: Clemency denied for convicted killer
During that hearing Underwood said he didn't want to die, but understood that he deserved it for what he'd done.
"I'm thankful that justice was able be done for Jamie and this chapter is closed for the family," said Mashburn.
The AP reporter said Underwood did talk briefly about being executed on his 45th birthday saying, "The decision to execute me on my birthday and 6 days before Christmas was a needlessly cruel thing to do to my family, but I'm very sorry for what I did and I wish I could take it back."
In a statement, the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty said, "Kevin Underwood was ostracized, shamed, bullied by his parents and his classmates. It contributed to his isolation and mental illness. It led him to commit an unspeakable horror about 10-year-old Jamie Bolin. We grieve for Jamie and Kevin and the senseless loss of their lives."
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