South Dakota Department of Corrections has issued a clarification as to who Donald Moeller's final statement was directed.
Moeller was executed Tuesday night. The narrative initially showed Moeller's last words came when he asked, "They're my fan club?" The Department of Corrections originally said question was directed toward witnesses. However, witness testimony alluded that Moeller was speaking about other inmates.
Department of Corrections Spokesperson Communications & Information Manager Michael Winder released this statement:
"Some witnesses to last night's execution reported hearing voices or audible noises during the execution as Inmate Moeller made his last statement. Several of the other witnesses, as well as DOC and Penitentiary staff members in and near the execution chamber, have since reported that they could distinguish the voices as coming from a few inmates in a nearby housing unit. Although one can only speculate, it is our belief that Inmate Moeller's reference to a 'fan club' was intended toward the other inmates, and not those people witnessing or staffing the execution."
