Bush Approves Military Execution

In 1988, a man was convicted of four murders and eight rapes while serving as a Ft. Bragg Army private. Now he faces the death penalty, but this is no "ordinary" execution.

Today, President Bush has ordered the execution of Army Private Ronald Gray, a man convicted of two murders, an attempted murder and three rapes on Fort Bragg in 1988. Bush's approval is a rare one, however, because this will be an execution by the military. Although there are 6 men on the military's death row, Gray's case is the first one to be signed President Eisenhower ordered a hanging in 1961.The President cannot commute or overturn a military conviction. White House spokesperson Dana Perino had this to say:

While approving a sentence of death for a member of our Armed Services is a serious and difficult decision for a Commander-in-Chief, the President believes the facts of this case leave no doubt that the sentence is just and warranted.

This order of execution will allow Gray to appeal his case. Although he confessed to 2 murders and 5 rapes that took place between 1986 and 1987, Gray appealed in 2001. His appeal was not heard by the Supreme Court. No method of execution has been determined as of yet.