A death row inmate’s final hours ended in shocking pain after a tragic last meal mistake. Wesley Ira Purkey, 68, was executed in 2020 but endured what experts call “excruciating suffering.”

Purkey had been sentenced to death for the horrific 1998 kidnapping and murder of 16-year-old Jennifer Long. He also confessed to killing 80-year-old Mary Bales with a hammer. Both crimes left families devastated, with Jennifer’s father saying: “He took my daughter’s last breath. There is no closure.”

Medical reports show Purkey’s lethal injection caused fluid to rush into his lungs, creating the feeling of drowning. “Most prisoners will experience sensations of suffocation from pentobarbital,” explained Dr. Gail Van Norman. His autopsy confirmed severe pulmonary damage during the procedure.

In his final words, Purkey expressed deep remorse, saying he was “truly sorry” for the suffering he caused. Strangely, his last meal request for pecan pie was never fulfilled—he asked to eat it “later,” not realizing there would be no later.

This haunting story raises questions about justice, punishment, and human suffering. What do you think—does true justice ever bring peace?