Tennessee's oldest death row inmate, Oscar Franklin Smith, 75, was executed by lethal injection on 22 May, maintaining his innocence to the very end. As he lost consciousness, he reportedly whispered, 'I didn't kill her, I didn't kill her,' referring to his estranged wife, Judith Smith.
Smith had been convicted in July 1990 for the murders of Judith, 13-year-old Jason Burnett, and 16-year-old Chad Burnett at their Nashville home on 1 October 1989. The attack involved stabbing and shooting the victims. Prosecutors presented evidence that Smith had taken out life insurance policies on all three and had solicited colleagues to kill Judith.
During the attack, a 911 call captured one of the boys screaming, 'Frank, no!' The court described the boys as 'heroes' who died defending each other and their mother. Smith pleaded not guilty despite substantial evidence against him.
Before his execution, Smith delivered a lengthy statement criticising the legal system and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, who had halted a previous execution in 2022. He said, 'Somebody needs to tell the governor the justice system doesn’t work. Too many of us are being killed for someone else’s deeds.'
His final meal consisted of hot dogs, tater tots, and apple pie with vanilla ice cream. His spiritual advisor sang 'I'll Fly Away' and prayed with him. Smith's attorney, Amy Harwell, called him a 'beloved child of God.'
Relatives of the victims expressed enduring grief. Judith's sister, Teresa Osborne, said, 'There’s not a moment that goes by that we don’t miss them.' Her brother, Mike Robirds, added, 'No one should have to live in fear like our sister did. No family should have to endure a loss like ours.'
