09-22-2010, 08:04 PM
The appeals process has run out for convicted murderer Teresa Lewis. On Thursday night, she will be the first woman executed in Virginia in nearly a century.
Kathy Clifton lost her father and brother after Lewis hired two men to kill them for a life insurance policy. Clifton says she plans to be there to watch Lewis die by lethal injection. She says Lewis committed the crimes and now she will have to pay for it.
"The whole time I'm there I will be thinking of them, and I will actually pray that the Lord has mercy on Teresa, even though she has shown none," Clifton said.
There's no chance of a last minute pardon for Lewis. Not only did the U.S. Supreme Court refuse to block her execution Tuesday, Governor Bob McDonnell has denied clemency twice. He says he's sticking to his decision.
"It was an absolutely heinous crime. She was convicted two counts of murder for hire in a brutal set of facts to kill her husband and stepson, and I just didn't see anything that would justify me setting aside the courts verdict," McDonnell said.
Lewis has decided on a final meal of two chicken breasts, sweet peas, a Dr. Pepper and either German cake or apple pie.
She is allowed one visit with immediate family. Spiritual advisors can stay with her up until the execution.
It's set for 9:00 p.m. Thursday at Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt.
Kathy Clifton lost her father and brother after Lewis hired two men to kill them for a life insurance policy. Clifton says she plans to be there to watch Lewis die by lethal injection. She says Lewis committed the crimes and now she will have to pay for it.
"The whole time I'm there I will be thinking of them, and I will actually pray that the Lord has mercy on Teresa, even though she has shown none," Clifton said.
There's no chance of a last minute pardon for Lewis. Not only did the U.S. Supreme Court refuse to block her execution Tuesday, Governor Bob McDonnell has denied clemency twice. He says he's sticking to his decision.
"It was an absolutely heinous crime. She was convicted two counts of murder for hire in a brutal set of facts to kill her husband and stepson, and I just didn't see anything that would justify me setting aside the courts verdict," McDonnell said.
Lewis has decided on a final meal of two chicken breasts, sweet peas, a Dr. Pepper and either German cake or apple pie.
She is allowed one visit with immediate family. Spiritual advisors can stay with her up until the execution.
It's set for 9:00 p.m. Thursday at Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt.