Jul 10, 2019The execution of Pennsylvania inmate William Rivera has been stayed. He was scheduled to be executed on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, for the murder of Tae Hun a/k/a Kumok Kang on September 25, 1995, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Jul 15, 2019Heavy rains and flash flooding has resulted in the deaths of at least 47 individuals, with dozens of others missing and injured. The heavy rainfall has also caused landslides and the destruction of roads, bridges, and homes. Over 10,000 people have been displaced from their homes. Please pray for the families of the deceased. Please pray for all affected.
Jul 15, 2019A 7.3 magnitude earthquake caused panic and damages in Moluccas Islands in Indonesia. This earthquake came a week after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Sulawesi, west of the most recent earthquake. There are no indications that the earthquakes have caused tsunamis, nor are there any reports of deaths. Please pray for the safety of those affected by the earthquakes and aftershocks.
Jul 15, 2019Heavy rains have caused floods and landslides resulting in deaths and several people missing. More rain is expected in the continuing monsoon season. Please pray for the safety of all affected.
Jul 15, 2019A plane carrying skydivers crashed shortly after taking off in northern Sweden. The cause of the crash is under investigation, however, witnesses described hearing strange noises and the plane appeared to be out of control. Please pray for the families of the deceased.
Jul 15, 2019Following the annual Bastille Day military paraded, police clashed with yellow-vest protesters near the Champs-Elysees. Earlier, protesters booed French President Emmanuel Macron. Please pray for peace.
Jul 15, 2019A hotel siege in Kismayo, Somalia by extremist militants ended with the death of 26 individuals including two Americans. Fifty-six other individuals were injured in the attack. All attackers, which have been linked to al-Qaeda linked Islamic terrorist group al Shabab, were killed by Somali troops. Please pray for the families of the deceased. Please pray for healing for the injured. Please pray for peace.
Jul 15, 2019Hurricane Barry, which has been reduced to a tropical storm, made landfall over Louisiana, with Mississippi and Arkansas also receiving heavy rain. While the rainfall has been less than expected, more rain is expected. The storm has resulted in flooding and power outages. Please pray for the all affected.
Updated: Thursday, August 9, 2018 8:59 pm EDT
The state of Tennessee has executed Billy Ray Irick. For more information, click here.
Updated: Thursday, August 9, 2018 4:11 pm EDT
The Supreme Court of the United States has refused to halt the execution of Billy Ray Irick. Billy and his attorneys were arguing that he is mental incompetent, therefore ineligible for execution, and that Tennessee's execution protocol will amount to a torturous death.
Updated: Monday, August 6, 2018 10:40 am EDT
Billy Ray Irick is scheduled to be executed at 7:10 pm CDT on Thursday, August 9, 2018, at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, Tennessee. Fifty-nine-year-old Billy is convicted of raping and murdering 7-year-old Paula Kay Dyer on April 15, 1985, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Billy has spent the past 31 years on Tennessee’s death row.
Billy Irick was friends with Paula’s mother, Kathy, and step-father, Kenneth, and lived with them for a time, looking after their five young children while they worked. On April 14, 1985, Paula was living with her mother, while Irick and her step-father were staying with Kenneth’s mother. Paula’s mother left Irick to watch the children while she went out to look for work. She was uneasy about leaving the children with Irick since he had been drinking, although he did not seem intoxicated. She called Kenneth, telling him her fears. He agreed to check on Irick and the children.
Around midnight, Irick called Kenneth, asking him to come by, saying he was unable to wake up Paula. When he arrived, Paula was lying on the living room floor with blood between her legs. Kenneth checked to see if Paula had a pulse, which she did, and then took her to the Children’s Hospital. Paula was pronounced dead a short time after arriving, as they were unable to resuscitate her.
An autopsy determined that Paula likely died from asphyxiation or suffocation. She also had some bruising and cuts on her face. Additionally, evidence showed she had been raped.
Irick was arrested the following day after he was discovered hiding under a bridge. After being arrested, Irick confessed to the crime. He was sentenced to death on December 3, 1986.
In 2010, Irick claimed that he was in the middle of a psychotic break when Paula was murdered and has no memory of his actions from that day. Irick also claims that he was set up by Paula’s step-father, Kenneth, whom, Irick alleges, was the one that murdered Paula.
At the age of six, a clinical psychologist determined that Billy Irick was “suffering from a severe neurotic anxiety reaction with a possibility of mild organic brain damage.” The following year, Billy was hospitalized and treated with anti-psychotic medication for the next 10 months. Following treatment, Billy was discharged to a Church of God home where he remained until he was a teenager. At the age of 13, Billy visited his family, which resulted in him destroying the television with an axe and cutting up his sister’s pajamas with a razor while she slept in them. After returning to the home, Billy snuck into the girl’s dormitory. Billy was expelled and sent back to the hospital, where it was discovered that he had been taken off of his psychotropic drugs. He remained at the hospital until he was 14, at which time he was released to his parents. Billy joined the Army at 17, but was quickly discharged. Billy’s mother also suffered from a psychiatric disorder.
According to interviews conducted by Billy’s attorneys, in the weeks leading up to Paula’s murder, Billy exhibited strange behavior, such as chasing a young girl down the street with a machete because he “didn’t like her looks.” Billy also claims that he was hearing and talking back to voices inside of his head. Billy claims that if this information had been presented at his trial, it could have changed the outcome.
Billy has asked the Tennessee Supreme Court to halt his execution, as he is part of a lawsuit with 32 other death row inmates, who are all arguing that the drugs Tennessee plans to use in lethal injections will amount to torturing them to death. Additionally, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam is currently evaluating the claims of Billy's diminished mental status as he considers whether Billy should be granted clemency.
This is not Billy’s first execution date. Billy was previously scheduled to be executed in October 2014, however his execution was stayed due to ongoing legal challenges to Tennessee’s lethal injection protocol.
Please pray for peace for the family of Paula. Please pray for strength for the family of Billy. Please pray that if Billy is innocent, lacks the competency to be executed, or should not be executed for any other reason, that evidence will be presented prior to his execution. Please pray that Billy may come to have a peace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, if he has not already found one.
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