Oklahoma carried out its fourth execution of 2024 on Thursday with the death of Kevin Ray Underwood on his 45th birthday.

With a long sigh, Underwood used his final words to apologize to the victim Jamie Rose Bolin’s family, according to media witnesses.

“I would like to apologize again for all the terrible things I’ve done. I hate that I did those terrible things and I wish I could take them back,” Underwood said. 

Underwood said it was cruel for him to be executed by lethal injection on his birthday and six days before Christmas.

Underwood admitted to luring Bolin,10, to his apartment and killing her because of his cannibalistic fantasy. He bought meat tenderizer, tarp and bbq sauce, to prepare for the murder, according to testimony at his clemency hearing.

He requested chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, pinto beans and a hot roll for his last meal. He also requested a cheeseburger with fries and ketchup.

Underwood also received two doses of Xanax —one the night before the execution and another Thursday morning, said Steven Harpe, the Director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. 

Underwood was declared dead at 10:14 a.m., about 10 minutes after the execution began. 

After the execution, Lori Pate, Bolin’s sister, delivered a statement and thanked everyone who helped bring justice for their family.

“This doesn’t bring our Jamie back, but it does allow the space in our hearts to focus on her and allow the healing process to begin,” Pate said. 

Greg Mashburn, the Cleveland County District Attorney’s Office, stated Bolin’s family now has justice. He stated that Bolin’s murder qualified for the death penalty, which is reserved for the worst crimes.

The United States Supreme Court denied Underwood’s request to delay the execution approximately 45 minutes before his scheduled execution.

Underwood’s attorneys argued two recent resignations from the Pardon and Parole Board violated his constitutional rights to a fair hearing. The board unanimously denied a clemency recommendation on Friday after Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed one new member. 

Underwood’s legal team had argued he deserved clemency because he had autism and a severe addiction to pornography. State prosecutors urged the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole to vote against clemency because Underwood was a danger to others and hadn’t shown remorse for killing Bolin. 

Oklahoma executions since 2021
Oct. 28, 2021: John Marion Grant
Dec. 9, 2021: Bigler Jobe Stouffer II
Jan. 27, 2022: Donald Anthony Grant
Feb. 17, 2022: Gilbert Postelle
Aug. 25, 2022: James Allen Coddington
Oct. 20, 2022: Benjamin Cole
Nov. 17, 2022: Richard Fairchild
Jan. 12, 2023: Scott Eizember
July 20, 2023: Jemaine Cannon
Sep. 21, 2023: Anthony Sanchez
Nov. 30, 2023: Phillip Hancock
April 4, 2024: Michael DeWayne Smith
June 27, 2024: Richard Rojem
Sept. 26, 2024: Emmanuel Littlejohn