Alabama Executes Man for 2010 Rape and Murder of Girlfriend's Cousin

April 24 (UPI) -- On Thursday, Alabama carried out the execution of James Osgood, who had requested capital punishment as penance for raping and murdering his girlfriend's cousin back in 2010. This brings the total number of inmates put to death this year to 14.

Osgood was put to death by lethal injection at Alabama’s William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. The Attorney General, Steven Marshall, authorized the start of the execution at 6:12 p.m. EDT. According to an email from the Alabama Department of Corrections to UPI, Osgood was confirmed deceased at 6:35 p.m.

Before being secured to the gurney, he had his final meal consisting of pizza after turning down lunch. However, he was observed consuming breakfast and some snacks earlier in the day, as mentioned to UPI.

Throughout Thursday, he had 11 guests visit him and answered one phone call. On Wednesday, he welcomed 12 visitors and handled seven telephone calls.

Osgood, who goes by the nickname Taz, received a death sentence for the murder of Tracy Lynn Wilemon, originally named Brown, on October 13, 2010. The family insists on using her original surname, Wilemon, going forward.

His lawyer, Alison Mollman, who serves as the Alabama legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union, stated a statement released following her client's execution, Osgood understands that although no words can mend the damage he inflicted, he hopes that agreeing to be executed voluntarily might provide some solace to the victim’s family.

Mollman stated that those of us who cherished Taz will recall him as someone greater than his most egregious deeds. While acknowledging the damage inflicted by Taz, similar to ourselves, we won’t excuse it; instead, we’ll hold onto our memories of the positive aspects," Mollman said. "We choose to remember Taz the individual rather than James Osgood the ‘criminal.’ a statement .

"We will remember that actions may be evil or bad, but people are not. People are redeemable."

After initially denying involvement, Osgood admitted to the police and was found guilty in 2014.

Due to a jury instruction error, the case was scheduled for a retrial when Osgood decided to waive it during jury selection.

His death sentence was reimposed by a circuit court in 2016.

Osgood stated at a recent sentencing hearing in 2018 that he subscribed to the notion of "an eye for an eye."

"If you can't handle the sentence, don’t commit the offense. I made a mistake. I deserved what came my way," he stated.

One of the prosecutors working on the case described the crime as a " twisted fantasy ."

Chief Assistant District Attorney C.J. Robinson told the jury that Osgood ended a life because he “had this perverted desire to take someone’s life.”

On October 13, 2010, Wilemon was assaulted by Osgood and his partner, Tonya Vandyke, inside a bedroom.

Vandyke and the victim were related as cousins. After sexually assaulting her, Osgood cut and stabbed his victim until she died.

During his confession to the Chilton County Sheriff’s Department detectives, Osgood vividly described: “I recall noticing the terror in her gaze and witnessing her trembling. Although extensive slicing took place, this wasn’t an act fueled by aggression. No rage played a part here. I was terrified myself. Since she wasn’t near death, I continued to slice at her throat and neck.”

Osgood experienced a traumatic upbringing, with a mother who struggled with addiction and worked as a prostitute. She was killed when Osgood was still an infant. Court documents show that during adolescence, he was committed to a mental health facility.

"Tonight, my heart and prayers are with Tracy's family," Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement. "No one should have to endure the pain they've carried or relive the horror of her tragic and senseless death."

Wilemon's family chose not to release a statement.

Osgood was the second person to be executed in Alabama following the state's lethal punishment of Demetrius Frazier by nitrogen gas in early February for the 1991 rape and murder of 41-year-old Pauline Brown.

Osgood was executed one day after Texas carried out the execution. Moises Sandoval Mendoza For the 2004 horrific killing of 20-year-old mother Rachelle Tolleson.

According to the Death Penalty Information Center , 34 execution dates have been set across nine states for this year.

In 2024, a total of 25 death row inmates were killed in the United States.