State uses Wrong Medication in Execution of Charles Warner

In 2015, a major slip-up caused a major malfunction during the execution of Charles Frederick Warner, an evil man who, eight years earlier, sexually assaulted and murdered his then-girlfriend’s 11-month-old daughter. The State of Oklahoma inadvertently purchased vials of potassium acetate instead of potassium chloride, the medication called for in the lethal injection protocol.

The Execution of Charles Warner

On January 15, 2015, Charles Warner lay on the gurney. Executioners injected each of the three medications into his vein.  After the third injection, Warner screamed, “My body is on fire!” His body fell limp, he went unconscious and took his last breath. Charles Frederick Warner was pronounced dead at 7:28 p.m., 17 minutes after the lethal injection process began.

“Justice was served tonight as the state executed Charles Warner for the heinous crime of raping and murdering an infant,” said Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin.

Third Time's a Charm

Warner escaped death twice in the years he spent in prison. 

His first execution date was pushed back after his lawyers filed appeals.

In April 2014, Warner sat in the death chamber preparing for his turn to die while the State executed Clayton Lockett. Lockett suffered a heart attack during his execution, resulting in the State halting Warner's death.

As ‘they’ say, the third time’s a charm, and karma finally introduced itself to Warner on that dreary January evening.  

The State of Oklahoma used a three-drug lethal injection protocol at the time. One of the drugs used in the protocol was ‘potassium chloride.’ The State discovered its mistake after an investigation. They had inadvertently used ‘potassium acetate” instead of potassium chloride.

Investigators later determined the State ordered vials of potassium acetate instead of potassium chloride.

Sean Murphy, then a reporter for the Associated Press, witnessed the execution. He said  Warner’s final words were, “They poked me five times. It hurt. It feels like acid.” He went on to say, “I’m sorry for all the pain that was caused. I’m not a monster. I didn’t do everything they said I did. I love people. I love my family. I love Jesus.” He thanked his mother and sister for their support and told them to tell his baby girl she “means the world to me.” He then concluded, “No one should go through this. I’m not afraid to die. We’s all going to die.”

When the execution began, Warner yelled, “My body is on fire!”

The Murder

Charles Warner dated Shonda Waller in 1997. Shonda was the mother of a beautiful 11-month-old daughter named Adriana Warren, while Charles was the father of 11-year-old son named Charvon.

According to Charvon's testimony at his father’s retrial, Charles did not like Adriana. She cried a lot, which angered him. He had shaken Adriana more than once. 

One evening, Shonda left Adrianna with Charles and Charvon while she picked up a few things from the grocery store. She found Adrianna naked and her body limp when she returned. Shonda rushed her unresponsive daughter to  Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. Dr. William McCreight pronounced Adriana dead 27 minutes after she arrived. Dr. McCreight stated Adriana had been physically and sexually abused. She suffered a fractured skull, jaw, and ribs, a bruised spleen and lungs, and a lacerated liver.

Warner denied hurting Adriana, but a mound of evidence led to his conviction. The judge in the case sentenced him to die by lethal injection plus 999 years in prison.

Shonda Waller disapproved of the death sentence, wanting Warner instead to spend his life in prison and suffer every day.

“I don't see any justice in just sentencing someone to die," Waller said. "To me, the justice is in someone living with what they have done to you, your family, and having to live with that for the rest of their life knowing they will never walk out those bars."

Rest in peace, Adriana.