Despite assertions from his counsel that he had been seriously mentally ill, Oklahoma hanged inmate Benjamin Cole on Thursday for the murder of his 9-month-old daughter Brianna Cole 20 years prior.
Cole, 57, was declared deceased at the state prison in McAlester at 10:22 a.m. local time.
Cole forced his infant daughter backwards, broke her spine, and tore her aorta before killing her in Rogers County.
Attorneys did not contest that, but they claimed he was profoundly mentally ill and had a developing brain lesion that had gotten worse recently. His paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis was distinct from the lesion.
The Oklahoman claims that Cole was served a facility “religious supper” consisting of vegetarian lasagna, salad, a tortilla, and a fruit drink package even though he had not requested a conventional last meal.
According to the publication, Cole described himself as “simply a super-duper bombastic Jesus nut” and expressed hope that his spirit would go back to his “Father in Heaven.”
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