Heavy Sentence for Ultralight Crime

After lingering on death row for over three decades, Lester Bower Jr. was finally executed by the state of Texas tonight. Bower earned his death sentence for the murders of four men during what appeared to be the theft of an ultralight airplane valued at around $4,000. Parts of the airplane were found at Bower's home after the murders, along with ammunition matching the bullets used in the multiple homicide.

Bower always claimed innocence, and won multiple appeals while on death row. In fact, he was given seven execution dates over the years, but the first six were stayed while various courts considered Bower's legal claims. 

Because Texas no longer allows special last meal requests, Bower was served the same food as others in his unit. For his last meal, Bower had baked chicken, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, black eyed peas, cornbread, sliced bread, and oatmeal bars, with a choice of water, tea, or punch to drink.

Dealing with so many execution dates over the years must have been harrowing for Bower; as a bonus, however, the condemned man did finally earn the seventh punch on his Execution Card and was able to claim his free sub sandwich.