Thomas Paul West, Convicted Murderer, Executed by Lethal Injection

Convicted murderer Thomas Paul West was put to death by lethal injection at the state prison in Florence just after 11 a.m. after more than 20 years on Death Row.West, 52, was found guilty of the 1987 murder of Donald Bortle.West beat Bortle to death during a burglary-gone-bad in June...

By James King

July 19, 2011

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Convicted murderer Thomas Paul West was put to death by lethal injection at the state prison in Florence just after 11 a.m. after more than 20 years on Death Row.

West, 52, was found guilty of the 1987 murder of Donald Bortle.

West beat Bortle to death during a burglary-gone-bad in June of 1987.

As West was burglarizing Bortle's trailer, Borlte came home and surprised him. West beat him to death and left him hogtied in a closet. Bortle's decomposing body was found later by authorities.

Last week, West -- for the first time -- admitted to committing the murder.

Check back later for details of the execution.

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