Richard Knight Executed in Florida for 2002 Killing of Cousin and Child

A Florida man convicted of murdering his cousin's girlfriend and her four-year-old daughter was executed by lethal injection on Thursday evening. Richard Knight, 47, was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke, according to the governor's office. Officials reported no complications with the procedure.

Knight was sentenced to death for the June 2002 killings of Odessia Stephens and her daughter, Hanessia Mullings. According to court records, Knight had been living with his cousin, Stephens, and the child in Coral Springs. The records state that Knight and Stephens frequently argued about his presence in the home. On the night of the murders, while his cousin was at work, Stephens told Knight he would have to move out the following morning. Knight became angry and stabbed Stephens multiple times before attacking the young girl.

While held at the Broward County Jail following his arrest, Knight confessed the killings to another inmate, who later testified against him at trial. Knight was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in 2006.

Hours before the scheduled execution, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a final appeal from Knight without comment. The...