James Pavatt, 73, was executed by lethal injection Thursday at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester for his role in the 2001 killing of Rob Andrew. Pavatt was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder after prosecutors said he plotted with Andrew’s wife, Brenda Andrew. Prison officials said the execution was uneventful and that Pavatt offered no last words. He maintained his innocence at a clemency hearing held the previous month.
The case centered on the shooting of Rob Andrew, a 39-year-old advertising executive, at the garage of the Oklahoma City home he had shared with his wife. The killing occurred as he was collecting his two young children shortly before Thanksgiving. Pavatt and Brenda Andrew fled to Mexico with the children after the shooting and were arrested about three months later while returning to the United States.
| 1) | Execution at Oklahoma State Penitentiary |
| 2) | The 2001 killing of Rob Andrew |
| 3) | Evidence and convictions |
| 4) | Pavatt’s final claims |
| 5) | A second scheduled execution |
Execution at Oklahoma State Penitentiary
Pavatt was put to death at 10:12 a.m. local time Thursday at the state prison in McAlester, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections said officials considered the lethal-injection procedure uneventful. Pavatt did not make a final statement before his death.
For his last meal, Pavatt requested a strawberry milkshake and a barbecue dinner consisting of smoked chicken, brisket, pulled pork, fried okra, baked beans and pickles. His execution came 25 years after the killing for which he was sentenced to death.
The 2001 killing of Rob Andrew
Rob Andrew was shot in the garage of the Oklahoma City residence he had previously shared with Brenda Andrew. He was picking up the couple’s two young children shortly before Thanksgiving when he was fatally attacked.
Weeks before the shooting, Andrew told police that someone was trying to kill him after the brake lines on his car were cut. Brenda Andrew later said masked intruders had shot her in the arm and killed her husband. Prosecutors rejected that account and argued that the attack was part of a plan involving her and Pavatt.
Evidence and convictions
Pavatt was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Prosecutors said he and Brenda Andrew, who were having an affair, worked together to arrange the killing of her estranged husband.
The two defendants were tried separately. Brenda Andrew was also convicted and sentenced to death. Prosecutors maintained that both defendants were equally responsible for the murder, regardless of which person fired the fatal shots.
Pavatt’s final claims
At a clemency hearing the month before his execution, Pavatt continued to deny responsibility for the murder. He said Brenda Andrew had manipulated him and argued that he only began to understand the extent of her influence during his trial.
“It was not until my trial that I began to see the extent to which I had been manipulated by Brenda. I can see why the jury believed that we were both involved in Rob’s murder.”
The clemency proceeding did not prevent the execution from going forward. Pavatt’s lack of final words at the prison contrasted with his effort to maintain his innocence before the clemency board.
A second scheduled execution
Pavatt’s execution was the first of two scheduled in the United States on Thursday. Later that evening, Texas planned to execute John Allen Rubio, 46, for the 2003 stabbing and beheading of three young children he was raising in Brownsville.
The Texas victims were 3 years old, 14 months old and 2 months old. The scheduled proceedings placed Pavatt’s execution within a broader day of capital punishment activity in the United States.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | James Pavatt was executed in McAlester, Oklahoma, at 10:12 a.m. local time. |
| 2 | He was convicted in the 2001 murder of Rob Andrew and conspiracy to commit murder. |
| 3 | Pavatt and Brenda Andrew fled to Mexico after the shooting and were arrested about three months later. |
| 4 | Pavatt maintained his innocence at a clemency hearing but made no final statement before execution. |
Summary
James Pavatt was executed in Oklahoma 25 years after prosecutors said he helped plan the murder of his lover’s estranged husband. The case also resulted in a death sentence for Brenda Andrew, who was convicted in a separate trial. Pavatt denied involvement at his clemency hearing but did not offer final words before the lethal-injection procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was executed in Oklahoma?
James Pavatt, 73, was executed by lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.
What was Pavatt convicted of?
He was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the 2001 killing of Rob Andrew.
Did Pavatt admit responsibility?
No. Pavatt maintained his innocence at a clemency hearing and said Brenda Andrew had manipulated him. He did not make a final statement before his execution.
