Malicoat Execution
Witnessing execution is Burns’ first official act as D.A.
McALESTER — At 5 p.m. Thursday, Bret Burns officially assumed the duties as District Six District Attorney.
At 6 p.m. he watched a man die.
Burns was in attendance for the execution of Grady County murderer James Patrick Malicoat. It was a case that he and former-District Attorney Gene Christian prosecuted together.
As the father of a five-year-old when the case was prosecuted in 1998, Burns said it was hard for him personally.
“It was a hard case for everyone involved,” Burns said, “This one pulled at everyone’s heart due to the nature of the charge and the age of the child - 13 months.”
Following the execution, Burns recounted entering the crime scene.
Dog feces littered the floor. More food in the house for the animal than for humans, and no baby food.
Tessa Leadford lived with Malicoat for 19 days of her life.
Everyone of those 19 days was she was tortured, Burns said. Although typically not determined until formal arraignment, stepping into the crime scene, Burns said he knew the punishment he would be pursuing.
“From the day we walked into the crime scene, the day of his arrest we knew we would seek the death penalty,” Burns said.
“It was a gruesome, gruesome crime.”
Nine and a half years later, Burns sat and watch Malicoat received the punishment his office had worked so hard for.
- Malicoat Execution
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Malicoat executed for brutal death of infant daughter
A Chickasha man who was convicted of killing his 13-month-old daughter nearly 10 years ago was executed Thursday evening at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.
- Death came quickly James Patrick Malicoat was dead before they executed him.
- Witnessing execution is Burns’ first official act as D.A. Newly appointed District Attorney Bret Burns witnessed the execution of James Patrick Malicoat.
- Malicoat’s last words… Malicoat's final words
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Chickasha man set for execution
A Chickasha man convicted of murdering his 13-month-old daughter more than nine years ago is scheduled to be executed Thursday night at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.
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Malicoat not expected to testify in person
James Patrick Malicoat's testimony in a competency hearing for a fellow death row inmate will likely come by deposition.
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Appeals court delays scheduled execution
James Patrick Malicoat was to be executed Tuesday for the beating death of his 13-month-old daughter nine years ago. The Court of Criminal Appeals on Monday reset the execution for Aug. 31 so he can testify in a case involving Gary Thomas Allen, also a death-row inmate.
- Oklahoma alters execution procedure Oklahoma has changed the way it administers fatal drugs during executions amid three court challenges to the process.
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Mother faces son’s execution
Reta Luther won’t watch her son die.
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