McALESTER, Okla. (AP) – A man convicted of beating and stabbing an Oklahoma City motel clerk and pouring acid down his throat was put to death Thursday.

George James Miller Jr., 37, received an injection of deadly chemicals at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. He was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m.

Miller was found guilty of killing Kent Dodd, 25, during a 1994 robbery.

Strapped to a gurney before the chemicals flowed, Miller nodded to his mother and others. “I love you,” were his final words.

Miller’s attorney, Robert Jackson, attended the execution, but neither he nor Miller’s family addressed the media. Several members of Dodd’s family witnessed the execution but didn’t speak with reporters.

Miller had maintained his innocence. A final appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was denied earlier Thursday.

The case against Miller was based on circumstantial evidence. Prosecutors showed jurors a photo of the crime scene that they said showed the word “Jay” traced in the victim’s blood. Miller, who once worked at the motel, was known by Dodd as Jay Elkins.

But defense attorneys said they analyzed the crime-scene photographs and could not see any words written in blood.

Prosecutors said Miller acknowledged being at the motel the night of the murder, wore sandals that matched footprints at the scene and had a drop of blood on the sandals that was consistent with the victim’s blood.

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