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Cory Johnson's last meal included pizza and strawberry milkshake, said 'love you' to family before execution

Cory Johnson was executed by lethal injection on Jan 14, 2021, at the Federal Correctional Complex, Terre Haute, Indiana

Cory Johnson was executed via lethal injection at the Federal Correctional Complex located in Terre Haute in Indiana. He was pronounced dead at around 11:34 pm ET on Thursday, January 14. Johnson had been sentenced to death for taking at least seven lives within 45 days in 1992 when he was part of the drug trade in Virginia. The weeks before Johnson's execution had been full of legal battles after he had been diagnosed with Covid-19 while on death row. 

In his final statement, Johnson had apologized for the crimes he had committed and also told the families of victims that he hoped that they would find peace. He had also thanked the prison staff, the prison's chaplain, his minister, and his legal team. As per a statement released by his lawyers, he said, "I would have said I was sorry before, but I didn't know how. I hope you will find peace. To my family, I have always loved you, and your love has made me real. On the streets, I was looking for shortcuts, I had some good role models, I was sidetracking, I was blind and stupid. I am not the same man that I was."

In his final statement, he had also said that the pizza and strawberry milkshake he had as his last meal before the execution were "wonderful". However, he did not get to have the jelly doughnuts that he had wanted.

According to a Legal Affairs writer, Michael Tarm, "When an executioner asked #CoreyJohnson if he had any last words, Johnson appeared surprised and distracted, focusing on a room to his left designated for members of his family. Still, glancing around, he responded to the executioner's question, 'No. I'm OK'." 

Tarm added, "Several seconds later, #CoreyJohn said softly while gazing intently at same room set aside for family members- 'Love you'." He shared, "After an official over an intercom announced that #CoreyJohnson was dead, clapping could be heard coming from another of the witness rooms. Someone also whistled as if in celebration." For two minutes after the lethal injection began, Johnson continued to try to speak to someone out of view of reporters. But suddenly, his eyelids drew down hard and his mouth fell agape. He moved only slightly after that.

The Supreme Court had denied last minute efforts by Johnson's team to overturn the execution. Their leaned their claims an intellectual disability and his Covid-19 diagnosis which argued that his infection along with the lethal injection would be a cruel and unusual punishment. Speaking to MEAWW in November last year, Johnson's attorneys, Ronald J Tabak and Donald P Salzman, in a joint statement had said: "Corey Johnson is a person with intellectual disability. Yet, despite compelling evidence demonstrating his intellectual disability, no jury or court has ever listened to the evidence at a hearing to decide if he has intellectual disability.  Under federal law and pursuant to the Supreme Court’s decision in Atkins v Virginia, Mr Johnson’s intellectual disability should prohibit his execution from being constitutionally carried out. We are not aware of any other federal death penalty prisoner who has never had a single evidentiary hearing at which he could present his intellectual disability evidence. The government should not proceed with Mr Johnson’s execution in the absence of a thorough and fair opportunity for him to present this evidence."

Their latest appeal was made post an appellate court on Wednesday, January 13, tossing out a lower court's decision to stay the executions of Johnson as well as another death row inmate Dustin Higgs who had also contracted the coronavirus. Salzman, had said, "The government must stop trying to execute Corey Johnson while he is still recovering from the COVID-19 infection he contracted as a result of the government's own irresponsibility in carrying out executions during the pandemic."

"There is no principled reason not to wait until the injunction expires in March to assess whether Mr. Johnson's lungs have healed sufficiently that he will not suffer excruciating pain during an execution," the attorney added. 

In light of Johnson's death, his attorneys said, "We loved Corey Johnson, and we knew him as a gentle soul who never broke a rule in prison and kept trying, despite his limitations, to pass the GED. His family and loved ones are in our hearts."

"We wish also to say that the fact Corey Johnson should never have been executed cannot diminish the pain and loss experienced by the families of the victims in this case. We wish them peace and healing," they added. 

Tarm had taken to Twitter to say, "I saw no clear outward signs that Johnson ever suffered _ though some medical experts say pentobarbital can have a paralyzing effect that masks any pain inmates might be feeling as they die." He added, "#CoreyJohnson's stomach never heaved or jerked at the midsection as it did for some executed prisoners. In filings, defense lawyers have said that unusual movement may be a sign of pulmonary edema. Government experts disputed that."

Johnson had been found guilty of seven counts of capital murder in the year 1993 with the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia jury recommending seven death sentences. Johnson and other co-conspirators had been partners in 1989 and 1992 and were involved in a "large drug-trafficking conspiracy". 

Johnson had murdered seven people over "perceived slights or rivalry in the drug trade". The names of the victims are Peyton Johnson, Louis Johnson, Bobby Long, Dorothy Armstrong, Anthony Carter, Linwood Chiles and Curtis Thorne. In his final statement, Johnson said each name and said, "I want these names to be remembered."