Update at 11:42pm: The execution of Ledell Lee is underway, according to the Corrections Department.
Update at 11:21pm: Signs are pointing to the Ledell Lee execution taking place before midnight, when his death warrant expires.
Update at 10:30pm: Lee has lost all requests to the 8th Circuit Court. The U.S. Supreme Court is now the focus.
From previous reports:
Inmate Ledell Lee could become the first Arkansas prisoner put to death in twelve years as early as tonight.
The state Supreme Court has allowed the use of vecuronium bromide, the second of three drugs to be administered as part of a lethal injection cocktail. On Wednesday, a judge had blocked the use of the drug. The state then sought and received a fast reversal from the Arkansas Supreme Court.
Lee has been on death row for the beating death of 26-year-old Debra Reese during a robbery in her home in February 1993 and was called a "super predator" by prosecutors for other alleged attacks on women.
Lee has claimed innocence and asked for additional DNA testing in the Reese case. The request was recently denied.
While there have been a number of legal developments that resulted in the executions being called on and off several times, Lee may be put to death tonight.
Arkansas Public Media will have full coverage.
