Following his arrest in 1994, a convicted killer has uttered just two final words after spending the last 30 years on death row.
Loran Cole has finally had his sentence carried out following the brutal 1994 murder of 18-year-old John Edwards, who was attacked while on a camping trip with his older sister Pam.
The tragic incident took place in the Ocala National Forest, Florida, when Cole and an accomplice started speaking to the siblings around a campfire, per News.com.au.
After showing the siblings to a nearby pond, the two men beat and killed John, before taking a then-21-year-old Pam back to the campsite, where Cole raped her.
The next morning, Cole assaulted her once again before leaving her tied to a tree.
After Pam broke free, she was able to flag down a driver passing by, and the police were alerted. Officers shortly found John’s body face-down in the woods.
At the subsequent trial, Pam told the jury that her brother's last words were "I'm sorry" - as she had previously told him that she never wanted to go hiking.
Cole and his accomplice were found guilty of first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to death and two life sentences.
The Daily Mail has since reported that Cole was executed by lethal injection at the age of 57 on Thursday at 6:00PM.
Prior to his death, he was joined by his son and a pen pal, where they shared a final meal of pizza, ice cream, and M&Ms.
Moments before his death at Florida State Prison, Cole was given the opportunity to share any final comments if she wished, BBC News reports.
He simply told the guard: "No, sir."
Cole was then strapped to a gurney and administered the three drugs through an IV drip. The first sedated him, the second paralysed him, while the third caused his heart to stop, per News.com.au.
Witnesses say his body "jerked and trembled" as his breathing became labored. He was pronounced dead 12 minutes later.
In a statement from John Edwards' family, they said they were "void of feelings and empathy for Mr. Cole".
"He placed himself into this arena," the statement continued. "We could never sanction a reduction in his sentence. He does not deserve mercy.
“Mr Cole has been granted 30 years of life in Florida State Prison. During those 30 years, he has been free to read books, study, eat proper meals, sleep in a bed, get medical care, bathe and exercise, receive visitors and to simply exist.
"This is something he brutally took from our son — life. That cannot be undone."
John and Pam's parents did not attend the execution.
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