In McAlester, Oklahoma, Kevin Underwood, a death row inmate convicted of the 2006 murder of 10-year-old Jamie Bolin, is executed at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. Before his execution, Underwood apologized to the Bolin family, expressing remorse for his actions. Addressing the family directly, he said, “I’m sorry for what I did. I cannot undo the pain I caused.”
The crime that led to Underwood’s death sentence shocked the nation. In 2006, Underwood kidnapped and murdered Jamie Bolin in Purcell, Oklahoma, in what authorities described as a premeditated act of horrific violence. The case drew widespread attention due to the heinous nature of the crime and Underwood’s chilling confession, in which he admitted to harboring fantasies of committing such an act for years.
Witnesses to the execution included Jamie Bolin’s sister, Lori Pate, her father, and several other family members. Lori Pate stated after the execution that while nothing could bring Jamie back, the family felt a sense of closure knowing justice had been served. Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn, who also witnessed the execution, described it as a fitting conclusion for a case he called “the worst of the worst.”
Underwood’s execution took place on his birthday and just six days before Christmas, a detail he described as “needlessly cruel” to his own family. However, prosecutors and law enforcement officials maintain that the death penalty is reserved for individuals whose crimes are so egregious that they warrant the state’s ultimate punishment. Mashburn emphasized, “Today, justice was done for Jamie. The death penalty in Oklahoma is for the worst of the worst, and this case was exactly that.”
Underwood’s final days included a clemency hearing before the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, during which he appealed for his sentence to be commuted to life without parole. The board ultimately denied his request, reinforcing the state’s decision to proceed with the execution. Advocates on both sides of the death penalty debate have weighed in, with supporters arguing it provides justice for victims and opponents calling it an outdated and inhumane practice.
The execution reignites discussions about Oklahoma’s use of the death penalty, which has been the subject of national scrutiny in recent years due to botched procedures and ethical concerns. Despite these controversies, the state remains among the most active in carrying out capital punishment.
For the Bolin family, the execution marks the end of a 17-year legal process that began with the unimaginable loss of their young daughter and sister. While no form of justice can undo the tragedy, family members express relief that they can now begin to heal and honor Jamie’s memory without the looming presence of legal proceedings.
