Missouri executes Walter Barton

Barton maintained until the end that he was innocent of the murder that sent him to death row nearly three decades ago. KYTV's Frances Watson reports.

(KYTV/NBC News) — A Missouri man was put to death by lethal injection Tuesday for fatally stabbing an 81-year-old woman nearly three decades ago.

The execution of 64-year-old Walter “Arkie” Barton was the first U.S. execution since the coronavirus pandemic took hold.

Barton had long maintained he was innocent of stabbing Gladys Kuehler some 50 times in her Ozark home.

His case was tied up for years due to appeals, mistrials and two overturned convictions.

In his final statement Barton said: “I, Walter “Arkie” Barton, am innocent and they are executing an innocent man!!”

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