Oklahoma executed 70-year-old Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez by lethal injection on Thursday morning for the murder of his common-law wife, Olimpia Fisher, in 2003. Cuesta-Rodriguez’s death marked the state’s third execution of the year.

According to local media outlets, two of his family members were present. He was executed without any trouble and was pronounced dead at 10:13 a.m. CDT at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.

According to witnesses inside the execution chamber, his breathing became heavily labored for several minutes shortly after the lethal drug cocktail was administered.

Cuesta-Rodriguez declined to give any formal last statement before the execution began. However, one action left the witnesses stunned. Instead of any spoken statement, witnesses observed the condemned man turn his head on the gurney toward the relatives watching from behind the viewing glass.

He silently mouthed the words “I love you” to his family members before facing forward again as the execution proceeded. One of the family members blew a kiss back at him.

Fisher’s daughters, Cinthya Allen and Katya Wallis, were not present for the execution. However, they issued a joint statement honoring their mother’s legacy and expressing hope that the resolution of the case brings awareness regarding domestic violence prevention.

Anti-execution activists held a protest and vigil in support of Cuesta-Rodriguez outside the facility. 

“Justice has been served for Olimpia Fisher, whose life was tragically cut short,” Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond commented. “I pray that her family finds some measure of peace after enduring 23 years of unimaginable grief.”

The execution was carried out decades after domestic violence ended in the fatal shooting of Fisher. 43-year-old Fisher was murdered in her Oklahoma City home. Prosecutors detailed how she was planning to leave the relationship when Cuesta-Rodriguez shot her in one eye. Before the brutal murder, he stalked and abused her for months.

Her 18-year-old pregnant daughter was just a few feet away when the first shot was fired.

As she screamed for help, Cuesta-Rodriguez waited approximately eight minutes before firing a second, fatal shot into her other eye.

Cuesta-Rodriguez had previously expressed remorse for the murder and explicitly told the pardon board that he did not want clemency. His defense attorneys had argued that he suffered from severe brain damage, PTSD, and a traumatic childhood in Cuba.

Netizens commented on the news of Cuesta-Rodriguez’s execution, expressing relief. 

“Should have been done a lot sooner than this; bring on the next one,” one commentator wrote. Another added, “What took them so long? This has to stop should have happened soon.”

“Took 23 years to of taxpayers’ money, and they got out to death. Not a very speed trial I’d say,” a separate comment read. 

Another comment said, “It is an absolute joke. Get to live an entire life, MORE then most people, until they’re old and gray and then finally get executed when they’re already about to finally die.”

Three men were executed by lethal injection across three states on Thursday, marking the first time in 16 years that the U.S. carried out three capital punishment sentences on a single day.

Correctional officials at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama, executed Jeremy Williams on Thursday evening for the 2021 r*pe and murder of five-year-old Kamarie Holland from Georgia. Her mother sold the child to the criminal after being offered $2,500.

“I want to thank God for forgiving me for my sins so I can meet him in peace,” said Williams, who had requested for his execution to be carried out sooner.

Meanwhile, Tennessee authorities executed Anthony Darrell Hines at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution for the 1985 stabbing death of 54-year-old motel maid Catherine Jean Jenkins.

Disclaimer: The Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available within the public record.