26-year-old death row inmate executed after brutal rape and murder of his mother-in-law

However, Honie made good on his threat, broke into her house and slit his mother-in-law's throat four times from ear to ear.

Three of Benn's granddaughters were in the house at the time of the murder, including Honie's own daughter.

According to police, Honie sexually abused one of Benn's granddaughters immediately after murdering his mother-in-law.

He was sentenced to death by lethal injection in 1999 after being found guilty of aggravated murder, burglary, rape and sexual assault.

During his 26 years on death row, Honie attempted several times to have the death penalty overturned.

He claimed that his lawyers had failed to adequately defend him, that the charges were racially motivated, and that he was suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome and brain damage as a result of a fall in his youth.

His attempt failed and on June 10 his death sentence was signed.

Last words of the murderer, meal before death

Just two days before his execution, he admitted: “I am a monster.”

He said of his crimes and his emotional state: “The only thing that has kept me alive all these years, the only thing that I know 100 percent would never happen if I were in my right mind… I'm not looking for excuses.”

Benn's niece Sarah Azulem said despite his remorse that “he deserves an eye for an eye.”

On the morning of his execution, Honie spent most of his time with his daughter, who was only two years old when he murdered her grandmother.

Before his last meal, he also spent time with his parents.

He ate a breakfast sandwich for breakfast, and three hours before his execution his last meal consisted of a cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake.

In his final hours, he was “gracious and grateful” to the staff who cared for his mental health.

At 0.03 a.m. he spoke his last words: “Change is possible” and “if it must be done, [his execution] so that they can heal, let us do it.”

“If they tell you you can't change, don't listen to them.

“To all my brothers and sisters here, keep changing. I love you all. Take care of yourselves.”