Arizona executes killer of real-estate agent

April 29, 1998
Web posted at: 6:21 a.m. EDT (1021 GMT)

PHOENIX (CNN) -- Convicted murderer Arthur Martin Ross was put to death by lethal injection at 12:03 a.m. (3:03 a.m. EDT) in the death house at the state prison complex southeast of Phoenix. The fatal dose killed the 43-year-old three minutes later, officials said.

Witnesses reported that Ross had no last words and seemed ready to accept his fate.

State officials said Ross could have lived at least three more years had he not declined to pursue his available appeals. A state panel decided against clemency Friday.

Ross, called a career criminal by prosecutors, was sentenced to die in 1991 after killing and robbing a 26-year-old Tucson, Arizona, real estate agent.

Ross is the 11th person to be executed in Arizona since the state resumed capital punishment following a 29-year absence. He is the second person in a week to be put to death.

Last Wednesday, a Honduran national died by lethal injection after last-minute efforts by that country's president and the Vatican failed. Jose Roberto Villafuerte, 45, was executed for the 1983 slaying of his girlfriend in a move that sparked anti-American protests in Honduras.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Related stories:

• Federal court says there is no constitutional right to view executions - April 29, 1998
• Texas man executed for murder he committed at age 17 - April 23, 1998
• Paraguayan national executed after appeals fail - April 14, 1998
• Governor, high court refuse to delay execution - April 14, 1998
• High court, governor review requests to halt execution - April 13, 1998
• Florida executes man convicted of 3-state killing spree - March 31, 1998
• Florida's 'Black Widow' executed - March 30, 1998
• Florida court denies appeal to killer known as 'black widow' - March 27, 1998

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