An Indiana man convicted in the 2001 rape and murder of a teenage girl was executed by injection early Friday in the state's third execution since resuming capital punishment last year.

Roy Lee Ward, 53, was put to death at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. Indiana Department of Correction said in a statement that the process started shortly after midnight and Ward was pronounced dead at 12:33 a.m.

A guard stands in a tower at Indiana State Prison in December 2024, in Michigan City, Ind. Erin Hooley / AP

Ward's last meal was from Texas Corral and included a hamburger. His last words, as reported by the Indiana Department of Correction were "Brian is going to read them," but it was unclear exactly when he made the statement.

He was convicted in the rape and murder of 15-year

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