Indiana death-row inmate joins Catholic Church before he is executed

Published: 2006-02-02

INDIANAPOLIS (CNS) -- Indiana death-row inmate Marvin Bieghler joined the Catholic Church and received the sacraments at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, Ind., Jan. 26 about eight hours before he was executed for the 1981 murders of Tommy and Kimberly Miller at their mobile home near Russiaville. Bieghler was put to death early on Jan. 27 about 90 minutes after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a stay of execution by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that allowed him to appeal his capital sentence by challenging the legality of lethal injection. Also Jan. 26, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels denied Bieghler's clemency petition requesting life in prison without parole. Bieghler admitted that he was a drug dealer, but denied killing the Millers in rural Howard County. Holy Cross Father Thomas McNally of South Bend, who has been a volunteer Catholic chaplain at the state penitentiary for three years, said Bieghler asked to be received into the Catholic Church.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .