DRAPER Utah (ABC4 News) - The wait seemed very long as we sat in a van about to be transported to witness the execution of Ronnie Lee Gardner.
Members of the media were to be transported at 11:45 p.m. and walk into the execution's witness room.
But the clock struck midnight and we still hadn't moved.
I began wondering if something had happened.
At around 12:05 a.m. we were given the order to move out.
Within minutes I along with my colleagues were inside a darkened witness room.
Next to us was the execution chamber where behind the curtain Ronnie Lee Gardner was suppose to be strapped in place.
The curtains opened and Gardner was there. His arms, shoulders, waist and leg was strapped as was his head.
He was wearing a dark blue jump suit with no shoes, just white socks.
Gardner seemed relaxed. His eyes moved from left to right as if looking to see who had come to his execution.
But he couldn't see anyone, the windows where witnesses were placed was made of reflective glass.
The warden asked him if he had any last words and Gardner shook his head saying quote: "I do not. No."
After placing a hood on his head, the Warden and his deputy left the room.
There was an eerie silence.
At any moment, I expected to hear a countdown. Gardner was fiddling with his fingers. Waiting.
Thirty seconds later I was startled hearing a "boom, boom."
Five marksmen who were inside a separate room had been given the orders to fire.
A three inch square white patch was placed over Gardner's heart. On the patch was a circle centered in the middle.
After the shots were fired, I saw a large dark circle on the upper left side of the target area. Two bullets found their mark there. A smaller bullet hole was seen about an inch away. It was still inside the target area. A fourth bullet hole could be seen on the lower left side of the patch outside the target area.
Gardner's body remained very still after the shots were fired. I expected blood but saw nothing except the darkened marks on the target patch.
But then there was movement coming from Gardner's left hand.
He clenched it tightly. I couldn't tell if it was a reflex or if Gardner was grimacing. Seconds later he relaxed the hand. And then he clenched the fist once more before relaxing it a final time.
After the warden re-entered he called for the physician. The doctor checked for vital signs around the neck and wrist.
He then lifted Gardner's hood to check his eyes.
From my vantage point I saw Gardner's head tilted slightly and his mouth was wide open. His skin had turned ashen.
Gardner was pronounced dead at 12:17, two minutes after the shooting took place.
