Texas death row inmate Steve Nelson was executed by lethal injection on Wednesday night, closing his final words with an unusual request -- "Let's ride, Warden."
Nelson, who was convicted of the 2011 murder of a popular young pastor, Rev. Clint Dobson, directed his farewell address to his wife before urging his executioners to do their job.
"I will always love you no matter, that our love is uncontrollable there is no definition and no felling," he said, according to the state of Texas. "I'm thankful and grateful. It is what it is.
"Always live for me and enjoy life. Give Monkey a hug for me. Know I am not scared, it's cold s--t in here. But I'm at peace, I'm ready to be at home. Let's ride, Warden."
Defiant to the end, Nelson did not go easily, according to his spiritual advisor, Rev. Jeff Hood. After his parting words, Nelson "took forever" to die and "fought to the very end," Hood said.
Nelson confessed to robbing Dobson and a church secretary at NorthPointe Baptist Church in Arlington, but claimed two accomplices were responsible for his murder. The secretary survived and testified that Nelson acted alone.
Originally published on Latin Times
