Execution Details and Final Moments
In the early hours of Thursday morning, Taberon Dave Honie, 48, was executed by lethal injection in Utah, marking the state’s first execution since 2010. Honie was convicted of the 1998 murder of Claudia Benn, his girlfriend’s mother, in Cedar City, Utah. The execution took place at the Utah State Prison, where Honie was pronounced dead at 12:25 a.m. Mountain Time.
Honie’s execution proceeded as planned, lasting approximately 17 minutes. As the lethal injection was administered, he mouthed “I love you” to his family members who were present in the witness chamber. Strapped to the execution table, Honie turned to thank the correctional officers before losing consciousness. His final words reflected a desire for healing and change, both for himself and others.
The Crime and Conviction
Honie was 22 years old when he brutally killed Claudia Benn by slashing her throat and stabbing her multiple times. The murder occurred after a day of heavy drinking and drug use. The crime took place in Benn’s home, the tribal headquarters of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, with Honie’s then-2-year-old daughter, Tressa, present in the house. The judge who sentenced Honie to death also found that he had sexually abused one of Benn’s other grandchildren during the incident.
Family Reactions and Final Farewells
In the days leading up to his execution, Honie spent time with his daughter and other immediate family members. He expressed to his daughter, Tressa, that he had come to terms with his fate and hoped she could do the same. His last meal consisted of a cheeseburger, french fries, and a milkshake.
Following the execution, Honie’s family was allowed to perform a Native American grieving ritual involving bird feathers and cornmeal, which they said would help free his soul after death.
Legal and Social Implications
Honie’s execution was the culmination of decades of legal battles and failed appeals. His execution warrant was signed in June, despite defense objections to the lethal drug used in the procedure. In July, Utah updated its execution protocol to include a high dose of pentobarbital, the drug used in Honie’s execution.
The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole denied Honie’s petition to commute his sentence to life in prison. During the hearing, Honie’s attorneys highlighted his troubled childhood and substance abuse issues, arguing that he would not have committed the murder if he had been in his “right mind.”
