Indiana executes stomping killer

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind., May 25 (UPI) -- Indiana Wednesday executed its third death row inmate this year, ending the life of convicted murderer Gregory Scott Johnson by lethal injection.

Johnson, 40, was pronounced dead at 12:28 a.m. at the Indian State Prison in Michigan City. He was convicted of killing 82-year-old Ruby Hutslar in 1985 by stomping on her and beating her with a broom handle in her home, and then burning it down.

Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Mitch Daniels rejected Johnson's plea for time to determine if he could donate part of his liver to his ailing sister, and the U.S. Supreme Court later rejected Johnson's final appeal.

Prison officials said Johnson's final words were: "Everyone has been professional."

After the execution, a handwritten statement from Johnson was released in which he expressed hope his sister would survive even without his liver, the Indianapolis Star reported.

Johnson is the third inmate in Indiana executed this year, the most in one year in the state since 1949.