Taberon Honie was executed by lethal injection on Thursday morning at the Utah State Correctional Facility, marking the state’s first execution in 14 years. His death followed more than 25 years after he was sentenced for the brutal sexual assault and murder of Claudia Benn, the mother of his ex-girlfriend and grandmother of his daughter, a crime that deeply affected his family.
I was one of seven journalists present to witness the execution. We were escorted into an observation room just before midnight, where we waited for the curtains to open, revealing the death chamber. In separate rooms, family members of Honie and Benn, as well as state legislators and law enforcement, waited out of sight.
When the curtains were drawn back, Honie was already strapped to the execution table wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, his arms and legs secured by leather straps. IV lines were prepared in another room, and prison officials confirmed there were no issues with the setup.
After warden Bart Mortensen read Honie’s death warrant, he was given the opportunity to speak his final words. Honie, despite being immobilized, expressed a desire for healing among his family. He said, “From the start, it’s been, if it needs to be done for them to heal, let’s do this.” He also conveyed love to his family, telling them to continue to change.
Following his remarks, the moment the lethal drug was administered was hidden from our view, but I observed subtle movements, such as Honie’s foot tapping nervously. Soon, his breathing slowed, and the only visible sign of his fading life was the change in color of his skin. It took 17 minutes after the drug was pushed for an electrocardiogram to confirm that his heart had stopped beating.
Once declared dead at 12:25 a.m., prison officials allowed Honie’s father and cousin into the death chamber to perform a Hopi ceremony designed to guide his soul from the prison. This moment was concealed from our view, but soft murmurs could be heard during the ceremony.
Afterwards, the atmosphere shifted as the reporters exchanged notes on the execution. The strong smell of bleach filled the air, indicating the area was being cleaned after Honie’s body was removed. Finally, we were permitted into the sanitized execution room, where the weight of the reality of the earlier events lingered.