Warden: Prison plans offer 'great flexibility'
Indiana 63 to remain open for traffic on day of execution
By Michele Holtkamp
Tribune-Star
Workers finished building temporary fences on U.S. Penitentiary grounds Friday that will hold the throngs of protesters and media anticipated May 16.
Less than a mile north of the prison, Warden Harley Lappin met with media for a final scheduled news conference at the prison training center.
Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh will be executed in the U.S. Penitentiary, Terre Haute, on May 16. Police and prison officials do not have an estimate on the number of media and protesters that will gather on the grounds outside.
"But I think our plans allow us great flexibility to accommodate a large representation in either group," Lappin told the gathering of a dozen or so media members.
Lappin talked about some of the technical details of moving McVeigh to the execution chamber. An escort team will move McVeigh, search and restrain him.
Government witnesses already will be seated when McVeigh is brought in. Other witness groups, such as the media and victims, will come in after McVeigh is in place.
McVeigh has not requested a spiritual advisor, to Lappin's knowledge. About McVeigh's attitude, Lappin said the killer continues to be relatively cooperative. He did not elaborate.
Lappin said he will read the court's orders for McVeigh's sentencing, offer McVeigh a final statement, and check for any last-minute stays of execution. After the execution is carried out, he will inform the media and demonstrators of the time of death.
Indiana 63, which runs north-south just east of the prison, remains scheduled to be open for traffic on May 16, Lappin said.
Those planning to demonstrate at the prison grounds, however, will meet at Voorhees or Fairbanks parks and be driven, via Bureau of Prison buses, south to the penitentiary grounds shortly after midnight May 15 until 6:30 a.m. May 16, Lappin said.
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