Chilling final words from oldest death row inmate seconds before execution

Oscar Frankline Smith, 75, was killed by lethal injection on Thursday, May 22. He had been sentenced to death in July 1990 - after a jury found him guilty of the brutal murders of his estranged wife and her two teenage sons.

One of a US state's oldest death row inmates shared a chilling final message just seconds before he was executed earlier this year.

Oscar Frankline Smith, 75, was killed by lethal injection on Thursday, May 22. He had been sentenced to death in July 1990 - after a jury found him guilty of the brutal murders of his estranged wife and her two teenage sons.

Smith carried out a horror attack on his wife. He stabbed and shot Judith Smith, along with her children, Jason Burnett 13, and Chat Burnett 16, at their Nashville home on October 1 1989, Ladbible reports.

Judith, who also had two children - twins with Smith, had recently separated from him shortly before the grisly killings.

Smith, who had reportedly taken out life insurance policies on all three victims, pleaded not guilty in court despite the huge amount of evidence against him. Two of his colleagues testified that he had solicited them to kill Judith and that he had repeatedly made threats to harm her and her sons.

During the attack, Judith and her terrified sons attempted to call the police and alert authorities. Prosecutors said one of the children could be heard in the background of the 911 call screaming, "Frank, no!"

As the Mirror reports, the court also heard how the boys acted as "heroes," dying while defending each other and their mother.

The former machinist never wavered in his claims of innocence. Throughout his incarceration at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, right up until the day he died.

The 75-year-old was executed after eating hot dogs, tater tots, and apple pie with vanilla ice cream for his final meal, Tennessee Department of Corrections spokesperson Dorinda Carter told The Tennessean.

Before the execution, Smith delivered a lengthy statement criticising the government, the legal system, and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee - who had previously halted Smith’s scheduled execution in 2022 at the last minute.

USA Today reported that before his death, defiant Smith said: "Somebody needs to tell the governor the justice system doesn’t work. Too many of us are being killed for someone else’s deeds."

As he began to lose consciousness, he reportedly uttered: "I didn’t kill her, I didn’t kill her," referring to his estranged wife, Judith.

Smith’s spiritual advisor was present for his final moments and sang 'I’ll Fly Away' while praying. His attorney, Amy Harwell, described him as a "beloved child of God" and said she was "honoured" to have represented him.

The relatives of Judith, Jason, and Chad said afterwards that they "continue to carry the pain" of losing them.

"There’s not a moment that goes by that we don’t miss them. I miss the sound of Judy’s voice - I know my brother does as well - on the other end of the phone," said Judith’s sister, Teresa Osborne.

"We miss the excitement of planning Chad’s driving lessons, and we miss the pure joy of hearing Jason’s laughter. These are memories and wounds that will never fully heal."

Judith’s brother, Mike Robirds, added: "No one should have to live in fear like our sister did. No family should have to endure a loss like ours."