Oklahoma Man Convicted Of Murder In 3 States Executed In McAlester

A man convicted of killing three people in three states 13 years ago has been executed in Oklahoma.

Steven Ray Thacker, 42, of Chouteau, Oklahoma, was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m. Tuesday in McAlester.

Steven Thacker admitted to the rape, torture and stabbing death of Laci Dawn Hill from Bixby in 1999.

Hill was the first murder in Thacker's 1999 killing spree which stretched from Oklahoma to Tennessee. She was a 25-year-old woman who put an ad in the newspaper to sell a pool table.

Authorities say, two days before Christmas, Thacker kidnapped Hill from her home in Bixby and took her to a remote cabin in Mayes County where he raped and killed her. Then he used her stolen credit cards to buy Christmas gifts for his wife and step-kids.

Thacker then went to Missouri where he killed Forrest Boyd. He stole Boyd's car and drove to Tennessee, where the car broke down. Thacker called a tow truck and authorities say he murdered Ray Patterson after being confronted for using a stolen credit card. He was captured shortly after that murder.

Thacker pleaded guilty to Hill's murder and was sentenced to death. He also received a 50-year sentence for rape and a 10-year sentence for kidnapping.

He was put to death in Oklahoma, but also received a death sentence from the state of Tennessee and a life sentence in Missouri.

"Steven Thacker was sentenced to death for savagely ending the life of an innocent young woman," Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt said. "My thoughts are with the families of Laci, Forrest and Ray, who all lost loved ones due to Thacker's heinous killing spree."

Thacker reportedly requested his last meal to be a large meat lover's pizza, peanut M&M's, and root beer.

When the curtains opened, Steven Thacker was already on the gurney, IVs already in his arms.

Thacker began his final statement by apologizing to the victims' families. He said he knew he didn't deserve it, but he said because God had forgiven him, he hoped the families could forgive him, as well, for the pain that he's caused.

Laci Hill's family and friends, some of whom were present to witness the execution, said that may have made Thacker feel better, but not them.

We spoke with Laci Hill's only brother and, at the time, he said he was just living for the day he would see his sister's killer executed, but he never did. He died in 2011, just six months after their mother passed away.

Lacy Hill's dad said he believes her mother died of a broken heart.

After the execution, her father and friends said Thacker's death brought them no joy, just relief.

"His death won't erase what happened, but hopefully we can now focus on happier memories, memories of the joy Laci brought to our lives. Now, we can truly celebrate and remember what an amazing person she truly was," said Laci's friend Marnie Reed.

They said Thacker's death was painless compared to what his victims suffered, but said they're glad this moment is behind them.

"You can never truly move on, you just survive," Reed said. "I mean, it never leaves you, and this won't make it leave you."

After his final statement, Thacker turned his head toward his stepfather, who was sitting in the front row, and winked at him. His stepfather gave him a thumbs up sign.

Seven minutes later, Thacker was pronounced dead.