If there was ever a death penalty case, it’s Bryan Kohberger: Nancy Grace
Nancy Grace, the host of “Crime Stories with Nancy Grace,” joined Sean Hannity to discuss Bryan Kohberger’s bid to reopen the Idaho college murders case. Grace forcefully rejected Kohberger’s assertions of innocence, pointing to DNA found on the sheath of the murder weapon and noting that he had previously entered a guilty plea.
Two men convicted of murder were put to death by lethal injection Thursday morning in Tennessee and Oklahoma, as Alabama officials moved forward with plans for a third execution later in the day.
In Oklahoma, Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez was declared dead at 10:13 a.m. local time at the state prison in McAlester for the killing of his girlfriend, Olimpia Fisher. Roughly half an hour later, Tennessee officials pronounced Anthony Darrell Hines dead for the murder of motel housekeeper Catherine Jean Jenkins.
Alabama was still scheduled to execute Jeremy Williams later Thursday for the rape and murder of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland.
According to The Associated Press, the last time three states carried out executions on the same day was Jan. 7, 2010, when inmates were executed in Louisiana, Ohio and Texas.
A similar three-execution day was planned in 2018, but only one execution ultimately went forward after Alabama officials were unable to establish an IV line and Texas issued a reprieve.
This photo, released Feb. 2 by the Texas Department of Corrections, shows the gurney used for lethal injections, known as the Death Chamber, inside the Huntsville Unit in Huntsville, Texas. (Texas Department of Corrections//AFP via Getty Images)
The developments come amid a busy year for capital punishment in the U.S. Florida executed two men on the same day in July, bringing the number of executions since the start of 2025 to 31.
Eleven states carried out executions last year. Tennessee became the fifth state to carry out an execution in 2026. Alabama would become the sixth if Williams is put to death.
Hines was put to death by lethal injection in Tennessee and pronounced dead at 10:43 a.m. local time.
Before the procedure, he was asked if he had any final words, at which point he said, “Not right now, thank you.”
Hines then said, “Tell my son hello,” before he was pronounced dead.
Hines’ son attended the execution, and had only reconnected with his father four days ago, having not seen him since he was 3 years old.
Tennessee death row inmate Anthony Darrell Hines is scheduled to be executed Thursday for the 1985 killing of motel maid Catherine Jean Jenkins. (TDOC Communications via AP)
Nearly four minutes after the death chamber curtains opened, Hines reportedly asked his spiritual adviser how long he had.
Moments later, witnesses heard heavy breathing and groans as the spiritual advisor prayed over him with her hands on his shoulders.
After the execution, Jenkins’ son, Dennis Jenkins, told reporters his mother was killed and only had a plastic spray bottle to defend herself.
“I hope he did suffer,” Dennis said. “I hope he felt severe pain because what he did to my mother is nothing compared to what he may have just gone through.”
Alabama death row inmate Jeremy Williams is scheduled to be executed Thursday for the 2021 rape and murder of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland. (Russell County Sheriff’s Office)
In Alabama, Williams was still scheduled to be executed later Thursday for the 2021 rape and murder of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland of Georgia.
Williams pleaded guilty, gave up his appeals and asked to be put to death.
Prosecutors said the 42-year-old paid Holland’s mother $2,500 before sexually assaulting and strangling the girl. They said he recorded the attack and kept her body so he could continue abusing it.
“To see on video what he did to this baby, what a grown man could do to a child, it’s shocking, it’s horrible, it’s disgusting,” Russell County District Attorney Richard Chancey said. “It’s just a level of evil.”
Williams was also investigated in Alaska in 2005 in connection with his infant daughter’s death, though no charges were filed until 2022.
Alabama has not carried out an execution this year. If Williams is put to death, he would be the first. A federal judge halted a planned nitrogen gas execution in the state back in June after finding the method unconstitutional.
Oklahoma death row inmate Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez is scheduled to be executed Thursday for the 2003 killing of his girlfriend, Olimpia Fisher. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP)
Cuesta-Rodriguez was executed by lethal injection in McAlester, Oklahoma on Thursday morning, making him the third person to be put to death this year in the state.
While he did not have any last words, Cuesta-Rodriguez reportedly turned toward two relatives who attended the execution and mouthed, “I love you.”
He was pronounced dead at 10:13 a.m. local time.
Fisher’s daughters, Cinthya Allen and Katya Wallis, did not attend the execution, though they released a statement acquired by the AP, saying they hope the execution raises awareness to preventing domestic violence.
The daughters also said they honor their mother by “raising our families to reflect the love and faith in God that she taught us.”
“Our faith in Jesus has allowed us to forgive,” they said.
