Texas Execution: ‘Wow!’ One Of Inmate’s Last Words

A Texas inmate shouted “Wow!” during his execution on Thursday. The man, Richard Cobb, was the fourth person to receive a lethal injection in Texas so far this year.

Cobb was convicted of using a 20-gauge shotgun to kill Kenneth Vendever in an East Texas field where two women were also killed. One was also raped.

The inmate was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. Cobb, 29, said his final words in front of the father, stepmother, and stepbrother of the man he killed. One of the women who was shot and attacked but survived was also present. She testified against Cobb at his trial.

Before the lethal injection was administered to execute him, the Texas inmate stated:

“Life is death, death is life. I hope that someday this absurdity that humanity has come to will come to an end. Life is too short. I hope anyone that has negative energy towards me will resolve that. Life is too short to harbor feelings of hatred and anger. That’s it, warden.”

But that was not the final statement Richard Cobb, 29, made. Just before the lethal drug took effect, Cobb twisted his head back toward the warden and loudly exclaimed, “Wow! That is great. That is awesome! Thank you, warden! Thank you [expletive] Warden!”

Then, Cobb’s head fell back on the pillow, his neck twisted at an odd angle. He remained with his eyes and mouth open for 15 minutes before a physician entered the death chamber and pronounced him dead.

But despite the execution of the Texas inmate responsible for his son’s death, Don Vandever stated, “I think justice was served but it doesn’t change anything to speak of. I do think the justice system needs to be more of a deterrent. All he did was go to sleep. That’s it.”

At the time of the crime, Cobb was just 18. When the Texas inmate was executed on Thursday, he was 29. His partner in the deadly crime, Buenka Adams, was executed last year for his participation in the robbery and slaying.