Henry “Curtis” Jackson, Jr., was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. on Tuesday after receiving a lethal injection at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. Jackson was asked before being strapped down whether he wanted to make a last statement. “No, I don’t,” he responded as his family sat in a nearby room.
Before he died Jackson never looked in the direction of his family, but he did visit with them earlier in the day. One relative who came to say goodbye was a sister whose two children were killed by Jackson. The children were between 2 and 5 years old and were stabbed while Jackson was attempting to steal their mother’s safe while she was away at church.
Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps said that Jackson acknowledged the crime and was talkative prior to his execution. Another visitor included his sister, Regina Jackson, who was stabbed five times and survived the attack that killed her two daughters and two nephews. The sister told the Governor that she “just can’t take any more killing” and begged that his life be spared. She added, “As a mother who lost two babies, all I’m asking is that you not make me go through the killing of my brother.”
On Tuesday afternoon, the Governor refused to stop the execution though he did say he was deeply touched by the requests for a reprieve from Jackson’s sisters. The Governor said that, “There is no question that Mr. Jackson committed these heinous crimes, and there is no clear and convincing evidence that compels me to grant clemency.” He continued, saying “One of these sisters was a stabbing victim, and both of the sisters are mothers of the murdered children. However, as governor, I have the duty to see that justice is carried out.”
Jackson claims he does not remember stabbing the children but there was evidence in his trial that he cut the phone line before going into the house. He then demanded money and began stabbing the occupants. Regina Jackson testified at trial that she faded in and out of consciousness after being tied up and stabbed in the neck, but she could hear her brother dragging a safe down a hall. Regina then saw her brother talked to her daughter and told her he loved her before stabbing her and tossing her body to the floor. Regina then pretended to be dead until her brother finally left the house.
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Source: “Henry ‘Curtis’ Jackson Jr. executed in Mississippi for killing 4 nieces, nephews,” by the Associated Press, published at ABC15.com.
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