John Wayne Conner executed in Georgia for 1982 murder

The state of Georgia early this morning executed John Wayne Conner for the January 1982 murder of James T. White in Telfair County.

The execution was scheduled for 7 p.m. yesterday, but was delayed as officials awaited word as to whether the U.S. Supreme Court would intervene. Officials received word shortly before midnight that the highest court would not step in.

Conner received a last meal consisting of 10 pieces of fried catfish, 10 hushpuppies, two triple deluxe hamburgers with bacon, two pints of vanilla ice cream and one sliced raw onion.

There have been 65 men and one woman executed in Georgia since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. Conner was the 43rd inmate put to death by lethal injection. There are presently 61 men on death row in Georgia.