A Texas man who challenged the evidence used to convict him for the killing of an elderly woman during a carjacking a decade ago was killed by lethal injection on Tuesday. 

Jedidiah Murphy, 48, was pronounced dead after an injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville for the October 2000 fatal shooting of 80-year-old Bertie Lee Cunningham during a carjacking. 

‘To the family of the victim, I sincerely apologize for all of it. I hope this helps, if possible, give you closure,’ Murphy said as he was strapped to a gurney in the Texas death chamber.

Murphy then started to recite Psalm 34 and said: ‘The Lord redeems the soul of his servants, and none of those who trust in him shall be condemned.’

He then told the warden he was ready as he turned toward a friend who was watching through a window and said: ‘God bless all of y’all. It’s OK. Tell my babies I love them.’

Jedidiah Murphy, 48, was given a lethal injection on Tuesday at the state penitentiary in Huntsville for the October 2000 fatal shooting of 80-year-old Bertie Lee Cunningham during a carjacking

Right before the dose of pentobarbital took effect, Murphy said: ‘Bella is my wife!’ 

A pastor stood over him as he took his last breaths and put his hand over Murphy’s heart before a physician came in 20 minutes later to pronounce him dead at 10.15pm.

His execution came just after the US Supreme Court overturned an order that had delayed the death sentence from being carried out. 

The high court late Tuesday also turned down another request to delay Murphy´s execution over claims the drugs he was injected with were exposed to extreme heat and smoke during a fire that took place on August 25. 

He argued that the fire made the lethal drugs unsafe and would leave him at risk of pain and suffering.

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Murphy also tried to challenge the evidence brought against him for the savage murder of Cunningham, but state attorney general´s office appealed the 5th Circuit’s decision and ruled in Texas’ favor. 

His lawyers filed a lawsuit seeking DNA testing of evidence presented at his 2001 trial and questioned evidence of two robberies and a kidnapping used by prosecutors to persuade jurors during the penalty phase of his trial.

The evidence concluded that Murphy would be a future danger – a legal finding needed to secure a death sentence in Texas.

Though Murphy admitted he killed the elderly woman back in 2000, he denied he committed the robberies or kidnappings. 

His attorney’s argued that the prosecutors used these crimes against Murphy because it was the strongest evidence they had to show that he was an ongoing threat. 

They also said that linking him to these crimes were ‘problematic’ as they included a questionable identification of Murphy by one of the victims. 

Prosecutors said that Murphy’s request for a stay was ‘manipulative’ and that it should’ve been filled years ago. 

They argued against the DNA testing and said that Texas state law only allows for post-conviction testing of evidence that is related to guilt or innocence, not to a defendant’s sentence. 

‘A capital inmate who waits until the eleventh hour to raise long-available claims should not get to complain that he needs more time to litigate them,’ the attorney general´s office said. 

On October 4, 2000, Cunningham left her home around 3pm to go shopping at Collin Creek Mall and when she still hadn’t returned by 8pm, her sister Evelyn Shelton reported her missing.