Archive: Darrell Devier is executed for murdering, raping preteen girl

Devier visited with his mother, stepfather and other relatives; his attorney; and a minister until about 9:30 a.m. Warden Gerry Thomas described Devier as appearing “calm and nonchalant,” said Karen Kirk, spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Corrections.

More than a dozen relatives or friends of the dead girl’s family gathered at the prison today for the execution. “It’s been way too long,” said Ginger Brown, the victim’s cousin.

Five death penalty opponents protested the execution. “This is murder,” said Bernard DeCook.

Credit: Provided photo

Credit: Provided photo

About 11:30 a.m., Devier ate two bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches and drank two cartons of milk, a prison spokeswoman said.

While Devier admitted committing the 1979 murder of Mary Frances Stoner, he had three trials, including one that ended in mistrial. He received the death penalty after the second, but the state Supreme Court ordered that he be tried again after a challenge to the grand jury that indicted him.

Devier, 39, came within 20 minutes of being executed on Monday. His execution was stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court, which lifted the stay shortly before noon today, state officials said.

The victim’s parents, Mary and Roy Stoner, and relatives and friends gathered at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Center to await word that the sixth-grader’s killer was dead. They planned to wait in the warden's office while the execution was being carried out.

Devier was pronounced dead at 1:28 p.m. at the state prison near Jackson.

Devier’s attorneys contended the state failed to comply with the Open Records Act during his trial. State attorneys said Devier wasn’t diligent enough in seeking the records.