Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The state of Oklahoma recently carried out its first execution of 2024, administering a lethal injection to Michael Dewayne Smith, a man convicted of a double murder. Smith, who committed the crimes during a drug-fueled crime spree in Oklahoma City in 2002, was 19 years old at the time. He took the lives of Janet Moore and Sarath Babu Pulluru, marking a tragic chapter in the history of Oklahoma’s criminal justice system.
Smith, now 41 years old, became the 12th person to be executed in Oklahoma since the state resumed carrying out death penalties in 2021. This decision to resume executions came after a nearly seven-year hiatus due to various issues that arose during previous procedures. The execution of Smith was reportedly carried out smoothly, with him uttering “Nah, I’m good” when asked if he had any last words before receiving the lethal injection.
The series of events leading up to the double murder shed light on Smith’s criminal past. He had been on the run for a shooting death a year prior to the murders he committed. Janet Moore was one of his victims, as she was tragically killed when Smith mistakenly believed her son to be a police informant. Another victim, Sarath Babu Pulluru, lost his life when Smith confused him for a convenience store clerk who had made unfavorable remarks about Smith’s gang to a local newspaper.
Smith’s execution, which took place at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, was witnessed by reporters who confirmed his death shortly after receiving the lethal cocktail of drugs. The Department of Corrections officially pronounced Smith dead at 10:20 ET, marking the end of a legal process that spanned over two decades. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond expressed gratitude that justice had been served, as did the families of the victims, who felt a sense of closure and relief after years of pursuing punishment for Smith’s heinous crimes.
As the families of Janet Moore and Sarath Babu Pulluru issued statements acknowledging that justice had been served, they also honored the memories of their loved ones. Despite the somber occasion, the families found solace in knowing that the legal system had held Smith accountable for his actions, providing a semblance of closure to a chapter marked by tragedy and loss.