Fla. Executes Inmate In CO's Death

The state of Florida administered a lethal injection Wednesday to a death row inmate convicted of killing a corrections officer during a botched jail break nearly three decades ago.

Willian Van Poyck was declared dead at 7:24 p.m. at the Florida State Prison in Starke. His final words were, "set me free."

Van Poyck, 58, and accomplice Frank Valdes had planned to free inmate James O'Brien on June 24, 1987, while a prisoner transport van driven by Fred Griffis took O'Brien to a West Palm Beach dermatologist.

When the two men ambushed the van, Griffis defiantly tossed the keys into a bush. Van Poyck claimed Valdes, who was later beaten to death in prison, fired the three shots that killed Griifis, reports the Sun-Sentinel .