Two Time Killer Executed in Florida

The 4th Execution of 2012

Twice-convicted murderer Robert Brian Waterhouse was executed in Florida on February 15, 2012. Waterhouse was convicted in 1980 of murdering Deborah Kammerer of St. Petersburg, whose body was found in the Tampa Bay. She'd been beaten, raped and dragged into the bay, where she drowned. In 1966, Waterhouse had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for killing a 77-year-old Long Island woman during a 1966 burglary. He was sentenced to life but was paroled after eight years.

Waterhouse visited for two hours with his wife Fran, whom he married behind bars about 27 years ago. He also ate a final meal of two pork chop cutlets, two eggs sunny side up, two pieces of white toast, a slice of cherry pie, a pint of butter pecan ice cream, a pint of orange juice and a pint of milk, reported the Wall Street Journal. He declined to meet with a minister or spiritual adviser.

Waterhouse remained defiant to the end.  He offered no contrition or remorse.  His final words reported by the Wall Street Journal, "You are about to witness the execution of a wrongly convicted and innocent man," Waterhouse said. He blamed his conviction on corrupt prosecutors, a prejudiced judge and a "rubber-stamp" appellate system. "The state broke its own law in destroying DNA evidence in my case so I could not prove my innocence."

Watehouse's statement is reminiscent of Roger Coleman's, the Virginia killer who denied he killed his sister-in-law.  He said "an innocent man is going to die in Virginia tonight."  His supporters pushed for DNA testing after his execution.  The DNA confirmed his guilt.

The curtain in the execution chamber at the Florida State Prison near Starke opened at 8:08 p.m., with Waterhouse already strapped to a gurney with a white sheet pulled up to his chin. According to the Wall Street Journal, the execution phase began at 8:11. He closed his eyes and took a series of deep breaths, exhaling deeply. He yawned once. Seven minutes later, a doctor entered the room, examined him briefly and pronounced him dead.

To read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/AP005b56befb774ef4840aeec808b3e981.html