Michael Taylor never denied his part in the rape and murder of fifteen-year old Ann Harrison of Kansas City a quarter century ago.  He went to his death at 12:10 a.m. today with no words of regret.

Taylor became the fourth Missouri inmate executed in a little more than three months.  His accomplice also faces execution at an undetermined time.

Five grams of pentobarbital ended his life nine minutes after the lethal injection process began.

Members of the Harrison family had no comment after the execution.  They will return to the Bonne Terre prison for the execution of accomplice Roderick Nunley.

A close friend of the Harrison family, retired Kansas City homicide Sergeant David Bernard, told the Missourinet after the execution he and his wife believe the execution provides no justice for Ann Harrison.  “This is just retribution,” they said.   Bernard was critical of lawyers and a court system that kept Taylor alive for 25 years, often with frivolous lawsuits that judges should have thrown out.  

Ann Harrison might have celebrated her fortieth birthday last weekend if Taylor and Nunley had not snatched her while she was waiting for a bus just a few yards from her home that day in 1989. 

AUDIO: Bernard interview 7:40

AUDIO: Post-execution news conference 8:23

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