NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee will carry out its first execution in five years Thursday as the state plans to put convicted murderer Oscar Smith to death.

Smith, now 75, was sentenced to death after he was convicted of the murder of his estranged wife, Judith Smith, and her two teen sons, Jason and Chad Burnett, at their Nashville home on Oct. 1, 1989. Their bodies were found a day later in their home.

He was sentenced in 1990 and last set to be executed in 2022. However, on the day of the scheduled execution, Governor Bill Lee delayed it with a temporary reprieve citing the state not following its own death penalty protocol.

Gov. Lee has upheld the execution order, stating he does not plan to intervene or grant Smith's request for clemency.

Anti-death penalty advocates continue to speak out against the decision — but say they understand victims family members may feel different.

"I absolutely cannot speak for anyone who's lost a loved one to homicide. I have not I can't imagine the horror of that, the devastation, the grief, the unanswered questions, and so I would never presume to say what could be helpful or not," explained Stacy Rector with Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.

Smith was moved to death watch earlier this week. During the death watch period, the inmate is placed in a cell adjacent to the execution chamber for 72 hours leading up to their execution to “maintain the security and control of the condemned offender and to maintain safe and orderly operations of the prison.”

The 8-by-10-feet cell contains a metal-framed bed with one mattress, a metal desk and attached stool, a metal shelf, a shower, a stainless steel sink and a toilet.

Smith is under 24-hour observation by correctional officers, and visitors are strictly limited to those on his visitation list and spiritual advisors. He cannot have any physical contact with visitors until the day of his execution, at which point the warden will decide if it is allowed.

According to TDOC, Smith may be visited by a spiritual advisor before his execution, but he can only be accompanied to the chamber by the prison chaplain if he requests to do so.

Smith has requested hot dogs, tater tots and an apple pie with vanilla ice cream for his final meal. However, this isn’t his first time making a last meal request. In 2022, Smith was served a double cheeseburger, a deep dish apple pie and vanilla bean ice cream as his final meal.

The execution is scheduled for 10 a.m., marking the first under the state’s new protocol.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/oscar-smith-to-be-executed-in-tennessee-thursday/