Georgia man convicted of killing ex-girlfriend and her 11-year-old niece executed by injection

Georgia man convicted of killing 2 people executed

JACKSON, Ga. — Authorities say a Georgia man convicted of the 1986 shooting deaths of his ex-girlfriend and her 11-year-old niece has been executed.

Melbert Ray Ford, 49, died by lethal injection at the state prison in Jackson, the Georgia Department of Corrections said Wednesday. Department spokeswoman Kristen Stancil says the time of death was 7:27 p.m.

The U.S. Supreme Court had early Wednesday denied a last motion by Ford’s lawyer to delay the execution. The Georgia Supreme Court had previously voted unanimously to deny a similar appeal.

Prosecutors say Ford was seeking revenge when he killed Martha Chapman Matich and her niece Lisa Chapman. They say Ford began harassing her with phone calls after the couple broke up and also told friends he wanted to kill her.