John Richard Blackwelder

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John Richard Blackwelder (December 10, 1954 – May 26, 2004) was convicted of the first degree murder of fellow inmate Raymond D. Wigley.

[edit] The crime

John Richard Blackwelder was serving time at the Columbia Correctional Institution with fellow inmate Raymond D. Wigley. Wigley was serving a life sentence for first degree murder. Blackwelder was serving a life sentence for a 1998 conviction for child molestation of a 10-year-old.

In May 2000, Blackwelder and Wigley engaged in a consensual sexual encounter. Although Blackwelder did not want a sexual relationship with Wigley, he knew that Wigley would harass him for sex, so Blackwelder decided to murder him. In preparation for the killing, Blackwelder positioned several pieces of cord around his bunk, then waited for the right moment.

That time came on May 6, 2000. Wigley went to Blackwelder's cell and asked for sex. Blackwelder feigned agreement so that Wigley would agree to being tied to the bed. Wigley took off his clothes and permitted Blackwelder to tie his hands and feet to the bed and tie a towel over his mouth. Blackwelder positioned himself on Wigley's back, reached for one of the hidden cords, and strangled him. Wigley pleaded with Blackwelder to no avail. Wigley was strangled for nearly ten minutes while pleading for his life. After killing Wigley, Blackwelder turned himself in to prison authorities.

[edit] The confession

Blackwelder pled guilty to the first-degree, premeditated murder of Raymond D. Wigley. Blackwelder said that he manipulated the state, killing Wigley to ensure he would get the death penalty because he could not stand the idea of spending his life in prison without parole, but could not commit suicide.

[edit] The execution

Blackwelder was executed by lethal injection on May 26, 2004 at the Florida State Prison in Raiford after he filed a motion to end the fight against his execution. Blackwelder was the 59th murderer executed in the state of Florida since 1976.

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