November 18, 2011 in Idaho

Triple killer Rhoades executed in Idaho

Betsy Z. Russell The Spokesman-Review

Associated Press photo

Paul Ezra Rhoades was convicted of killing three people in Idaho Falls and Blackfoot in 1988.
(Full-size photo)

BOISE - Triple murderer Paul Ezra Rhoades was executed this morning despite repeated last-minute appeals, in Idaho’s first execution since 1994 and only its second since 1957.

“The execution of Paul Ezra Rhoades has been carried out in the manner that was prescribed by law in the state of Idaho,” state Corrections Director Brent Reinke said. “Death of the prisoner was pronounced at 9:15 a.m.”

In his final words, Rhoades took responsibility for one of the murders, but not the other two. A friend of the family of one of the victims, who was in the chamber witnessing the execution, said, “The devil has gone home.”

Another family member commented, “What a coward.”

Unlike the last person executed in Idaho, double murderer Keith Eugene Wells, who dropped all appeals and asked to be put to death, Rhoades pursued every appeal possible, including a last-ditch appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court the night before his execution. None worked.

Rhoades earlier admitted his crimes, which terrorized an eastern Idaho community for three weeks in 1987. His appeals have focused mostly on technicalities and on his abusive childhood and drug addiction. He said he had changed in his quarter-century in prison. He also challenged Idaho’s lethal-injection execution method as cruel.

Rhoades received the death sentence for the kidnappings and murders of 34-year-old Susan Michelbacher and 21-year-old Stacy Dawn Baldwin in 1987. He also was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 1987 murder of 20-year-old Nolan Haddon, to which he pleaded guilty.

Associated Press reporter Rebecca Boone, who witnessed the execution, said Rhoades, after apologizing for the Michelbacher murder, said to the families of his other two victims, “I can’t help you guys, sorry.”

She said a family member of one of the victims said, “He’s been lying the whole way through.”

Rhoades, lying on his back strapped to a gurney with IVs running to deliver the drugs that would kill him, said, “‘Mom, goodbye,’ then he turned and faced the warden, Randy Blades, and said, ‘You guys, I forgive you, I really do,’” Boone reported.

ABC Channel 6 reporter Mac King said, “The whole thing was incredibly sterile, with the exception of his statement. Everyone was really professional.” King said there were “some tears” from the victims’ families. King was among four reporters who witnessed the execution on behalf of the public.

About 45 people gathered in a circle in the freezing darkness outside Idaho’s state prison complex early in the morning to protest capital punishment, as the clock ticked toward the time for Rhoades to die by lethal injection.

“This is a heartbreaking morning,” said Mia Crosthwaite of Idahoans Against the Death Penalty.

Reinke, asked about Rhoades’ demeanor prior to the execution proceedings, said, “He’s very serious. He understands what is about to happen. His spiritual adviser and his attorney have been with him throughout the night.”

Addressing the media in the chill of the early morning, Reinke said, “The law requires and justice demands that Mr. Rhoades be held accountable. … Today we carry out the execution order.”

All Idaho state prisons, statewide, were on lockdown and high alert during the execution proceedings, Reinke said.

Tom Moss, who prosecuted Rhoades in 1987 and later served as U.S. attorney for Idaho, said after the execution, “Nothing brings total justice. They don’t get their loved ones back. But it brings some satisfaction to them.”

He said, “I’ve often said I don’t think I will live to see anybody executed. So there’s a certain amount of closure to see one of ‘em get executed. … There is satisfaction to see finally the law comes to its conclusion, it’s done. These families don’t have to read any more in the paper about there’s something going on with Paul Rhoades. … This case is closed.”

11 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

scaleram on November 18 at 8:50 a.m.
Too bad it takes over 20 years to execute an admitted killer. A couple of days is more than enough time to make the preparations. BTW: Why is Joseph Duncan still alive?
oneanddone on November 18 at 9:25 a.m.
“This is a heartbreaking morning,” said Mia Crosthwaite of Idahoans Against the Death Penalty. “It is good to be with other people.”
But I’m absolutely sure none of those he butchered will be among those “other people.” And who know what light they might have brought to this world. Or what the future children of those women might have done. Maybe some day Mia will have thoughts for them but I doubt it.
RedCedar on November 18 at 9:27 a.m.
Aside from the matter of whether or not we capital punishment is a good thing, it appears that one of the lessons here is that admitting one’s guilt is not a successful strategy. Maybe he hoped for leniency, but he clearly didn’t get any.
I doubt that people who are contemplating murdering someone will be influenced by this execution. Nonetheless, deterrence is always listed as one of the reasons for keeping capital punishment. Maybe it is or maybe it isn’t. We can’t know what’s going on inside someone else’s brain. If a potential murderer is rational enough to remember this case and consider the fact that he or she might get executed, they must also be rational enough to, if the decide to go ahead with the murder, try extremely hard not to get caught and if they are caught, admit to nothing and make the prosecutor prove everything. The part about not getting caught is not as hard as it sounds; the majority of murders are never solved.
Shadedmuse on November 18 at 9:38 a.m.
Whats the deal with people from Idaho Falls? this town seems to breed crazy tea-baggers like rabbits.
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on November 18 at 9:44 a.m.
Red: IMHO it’s about one thing, and one thing only: revenge. But the hunger for vengeance is considered an ignoble motive, so people feel they have to dress it up as something else to make it politically palatable.
Notapatriot on November 18 at 10:01 a.m.
Goodbye. Good Riddance. They world has one less POS human consuming resources. 20 years is surely enough time for ANYBODY to change. His abusive childhood is of course the over-used excuse of most murderers. Drug abuse. Absent father figure. PTSD. “I had to kill those people - I was treated harshly as a child.” Only thing missing is he didn’t say he was Born Again.
Puleezzzzz……..
herewegoagain on November 18 at 12:35 p.m.
Good !
Cat33 on November 18 at 12:51 p.m.
SERIAL killer….
deerbandit on November 18 at 3:12 p.m.
What a crock, Rhoades and his Attorneys were basing their appeal on the fact that the method of execution in Idaho might be painful to him. Do any of you Liberals who dont believe in the Death Penalty really believe it wasnt painful for this animals victims. Do you not think those poor people felt every bullet entering, damaging, and going thru their body. The descriptions of this animals crimes said one of his victims bullet ridden body. To anyone that doesnt understand, that means he pumped lots of bullets into at least one of the victims. The last time I checked (thatoneguy (bruce) family members were not part of the execution team, so anyone that says this is vengeance you are an idiot. I am sure the members of the execution team are vetted to make sure they are not related to any of the victims. I can tell you that if someone kills me I have instructed my family to push for the death penalty, that is truly what I would want. Why do you think someone who takes anothers life has the right to live any longer once they are convicted in a trial by their peers of first degree murder. You Liiberals think justice is served by spending the rest of your life in prison. You are sorely mistaken. They get to eat ,sleep, live, have relationships, which is something they took from their victim and their families. Geesh wake up.
Traveler on November 18 at 3:41 p.m.
deerbandit, I know it’s easiest to just to tar all liberals with the same brush, rather than expect a variety of opinions from folks you so obviously despise, but some of us in the other camp think Rhoades should’ve been put down like the dog he was decades ago.
Of course, I guess that makes us “moderate” — something you probably don’t understand.
kb7bth on November 20 at 11:09 p.m.
i thought the bible-thumpin’ republicon montra was: all life is precious….
i guess NOT.