NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF)- Thursday morning, Harold Wayne Nichols death was carried out by lethal injection, for the rape and murder of Karen Pulley, who was a 20 year old Chattanooga State student in 1988.
The execution of Halloween Nichols was carried out here at Riverbend Max security prison shortly after 10 a.m central time in Nashville
I was one of six media witnesses who saw the execution of Mr. Nichols.
We heard from the both the family of Karen Pulley, the victim in this case, and a spiritual advisor who says that his view this execution on Thursday was a great injustice.
The execution began at 10:25, as Nichols was tied down to a gurney.
When asked his final words, he stated quote, ““To the people I’ve harmed, I’m sorry. To my family, know that I love you. I know where I’m going to. I’m ready to go home.” Enquote.
Afterwards his Chaplin, J.R. Davis, read him various passages from the Bible and prayed the Lord’s Prayer with Nichols.
At this point, Nichols cried and said quote “I’m sorry.”
He shortly thereafter stopped visibly breathing and was pronounced dead by 10:39 AM Central time.
Davis said in his view, the execution was unnecessary, and read a poem from Nichols.
Davis said, “We’re killing old men…. Yes there were horrible crimes and families affected and and young 20 year-old lives taken but killing to teach people not to kill just doesn’t seem to make sense.”
For Karen Pulley’s brother, Jeff Monroe, he says this day closes a painful 37 years of suffering.
He says he wishes that her parents could have seen this day.
Monroe said, “We have waited 37 years for justice, and we understand taking a life is serious, we don’t take any pleasure in it. however the victims, and there were many, were carefully stalked and attacked. Their crimes, and there were many, were deliberate, violent, and horrific… She was lovely, happy, selfless. She was looking forward to life in front of her. She was excited about spending time with her sister and holding her niece for the first time.”
Monroe says Karen Pulley was robbed of the chance to live her life.
Monroe said, “We are relieved the nightmare is over and take comfort knowing he never be able again to hurt anyone else. Moving forward, our family is going to concentrate on the happy memories of Karen, and will never again be retraumatized by this monster.”
Nichols has become the fourth inmate from our viewing area to be executed since 2003 and second one from Hamilton county, the last one being Lee Hall in 2019.
Karen Pulley, his victim in that murder in 1988, was only 20 years old at the time of her death.
