Derrick Dearman is set to be executed in Alabama, eight years after killing five people related to his then-girlfriend Laneta Lester. Dearman used an ax and guns to carry out the attack in 2016 in Citronelle. He penned letters dropping his appeals, stating the victims deserved justice. Former Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich believes Dearman still seeks control over his own fate like he did over his victims. Despite being on death row since 2018, Dearman fast-tracked his execution. He was high on drugs during the attack and had a volatile relationship with Lester. He pleaded guilty to the charges, waiving his right to counsel, and was found guilty in a fair trial in 2018. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals upheld his death sentence. Dearman later claimed mental illness and ineffective counsel in an unsuccessful appeal. Governor Kay Ivey announced the execution date in September, proceeding with lethal injection over nitrogen gas. Dearman’s execution coincides with that of Robert Leslie Roberson, a Texas inmate who maintains his innocence. Dearman’s decision to accept his punishment sheds light on his desire for his victims to receive the justice they deserve while acknowledging the consequences of his actions.
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