Missouri became the first state to execute a male to female transgender inmate in the US.
Convicted killer Scott McLaughlin, who identified as “Amber,” was put to death by lethal injection on Tuesday night.
“I am sorry for what I did,” McLaughlin said in a written statement. “I am a loving and caring person.”
McLaughlin, 45, was accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in 1992 and stalking and killing his girlfriend in 2003.
McLaughlin began transitioning from male to female transgender three years ago while in prison.
The Associated Press confirmed McLaughlin’s death sentence was carried out on Tuesday, over the objections of Democrat politicians.
“A Missouri inmate was put to death Tuesday for a 2003 killing, becoming what is believed to be the first transgender woman executed in the U.S.,” the AP reported.
According to court records, McLaughlin stalked and brutally raped and murdered ex-girlfriend Beverly Guenther.
“In the spring of 2003, Guenther and McLaughlin formally ended their relationship, but McLaughlin continued to pursue the woman, exhibiting stalking behaviors by frequently visiting her place of work and calling her.”
Guenther had filed multiple restraining orders against McLaughlin. On November 20, McLaughlin went to Guenther’s job and lay in wait for her. As she left work and walked to her vehicle, Guenther ambushed her, forced her to the ground, and raped her. He then stabbed her to death, shoved her body in his car, drove to a river, and hid her body in the underbrush.
McLaughlin was previously charged with raping a 14-year-old girl in 1992.
Democrat politicians tried to stop McLaughlin’s execution. But their pleas fell on deaf ears. They complained that a judge sentenced McLaughlin to death after a jury couldn’t agree on a sentence.
Democrat Congresswoman Cori Bush took to Twitter to mourn McLaughlin after the execution was carried out.
3 days into 2023, Missouri has chosen to uphold violence over mercy.
Today, the state executed Amber McLaughlin, a trans woman, who was sentenced to death by a judge after a jury could not unanimously agree to impose that sentence.
Capital punishment must be abolished.
— Congresswoman Cori Bush (@RepCori) January 4, 2023
Please, Missouri Governor @mikeparson, consider life in prison rather than death for Amber McLaughlin. A jury could not agree to kill her, so why are you doing this?
Please pray that God touches Gov Parson’s heart with compassion. https://t.co/nxoe6Q71h2
— Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) January 3, 2023
