Man Overdoses; His Execution Is Postponed

McALESTER, Okla. — A Death Row inmate only hours away from execution was hospitalized Thursday night after an apparent drug overdose. Prison officials said they would proceed with the lethal injection as soon as he was stabilized.

Robert Brecheen, 40, was found in the holding cell, his pupils dilated and his breathing heavy, three hours before his scheduled midnight execution.

Corrections spokesman Jerry Massie said Brecheen appeared to be asleep in the holding cell at 7:43 p.m., only minutes after two attorneys ended a visit. Prison staff tried unsuccessfully to wake him at 9 p.m., and he was taken to a hospital.

Officials weren’t certain what Brecheen had taken. He had been strip-searched when he was placed in the holding cell in the morning, and his belongings searched. Later, he declined a special last meal and passed up the stew-and-noodle dinner served to other inmates.

Massie said Brecheen would be returned to the prison to face execution as soon as doctors could stabilize his condition.

Brecheen was sentenced to death for the 1983 murder of Marie Stubbs, 59, wife of a clothing store owner who once sold Brecheen a hat on credit.

Her husband, Hilton Stubbs, told police he never got paid and had refused Brecheen a loan shortly before his wife was shot in the head.

The night of the slaying, Mrs. Stubbs went to let the dog out and met her assailant at the door. Stubbs heard her say, “Oh, no,” then heard the gunshot.

Stubbs wounded Brecheen when the assailant came to his bedroom and shot at him.

Investigators found Brecheen bleeding at his pickup truck about two blocks from the house. He was convicted of murder and burglary.