BALTIMORE, June 18 (UPI) -- Steven Howard Oken was put to death in Baltimore by lethal injection for the murder of a college student in Maryland's first execution since 1998.
The injection rendered Oken unconscious, paralyzed his lungs and, finally, stopped his heart at 9:11 p.m. Thursday, the Washington Post reported.
Oken was executed for the sexual assault and murder of Dawn Marie Garvin during a two-week rampage from Maryland to Maine in November 1987.
He also received two terms of life without parole for the killing of his sister-in-law, Patricia Hirt, in Maryland and the slaying of Lori Ward, a motel clerk in Maine.
Garvin's husband and mother observed the execution, as did the relatives of the two other women he sexually assaulted and killed.
"I want to thank God. This is finally over," said Betty Romano, Garvin's mother. "The only problem is Steven Oken died in peace. My daughter didn't have the luxury to die in peace, as I saw Steven Oken die tonight."
