Utah man executed 25 years after he sexually assaulted, mutilated, and killed ex-girlfriend’s mother

SALT LAKE CITY (TCN) -- A 48-year-old man was put to death early Thursday morning, 25 years after he was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend’s mother in front of her three grandchildren.

The Utah Department of Corrections confirmed at 12:30 a.m. that Taberon Honie died by lethal injection.

Department of Corrections officials said in a news conference that Honie said prior to the execution, "From the start, it’s been, if it needs to be done for them to heal, let’s do this. If they tell you you can’t change, don’t listen to them. To all my brothers and sisters here, continue to change. I love you all, take care."

Prison officials administered pentobarbital at 12:04 a.m. A second dose was administered at 12:13 a.m. Honie was declared dead at 12:25 a.m. His father and cousin reportedly performed a Hopi death ceremony after he was pronounced deceased.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports Honie’s death marks the first death row execution in the state since 2010. The last time a lethal injection was administered was 1999.

The Utah Department of Corrections provided details about Honie’s last day, saying he spent time with his parents, sisters, daughter, and other relatives. His last meal consisted of a cheeseburger, milkshake, and fries. He reportedly told his family to "keep their heads up" and "was even cracking jokes." He was described as being in a "jovial mood."

According to court documents, on July 9, 1998, at approximately 8 p.m., Honie called his ex-girlfriend, Carol Pikyavit, and told her to come over to his house. She reportedly declined, and he threatened that he would kill her mother and nieces. Pikyavit and her sister left for work at around 10:30 p.m., and they left their three children in Claudia Benn’s care. Honie called a cab at 11:20 p.m. and went to Benn’s house. The cab driver reportedly "could tell that Mr. Honie was intoxicated," but he still knew how to get there.

At 12:20 a.m., police arrived at Benn’s house after several neighbors called. When they got there, police noticed a sliding door to enter the home was broken. Officers saw Honie fleeing the house from the garage and ordered him to get on the ground. He reportedly had blood "from his fingertips to his elbows," and told one of the officers, "I stabbed her. I killed her with a knife."

Police found Benn partially nude and face-down on the living room floor. A bloody kitchen knife was left close to her head.

Court documents say two of the three children "had some blood on them," but one of them, identified as D.R., "was covered, literally, head to toe with blood."

D.R. was not wearing underwear at the time. A social worker gave the girl a new pair of underwear, but doctors decided to examine her after finding blood on the undergarment. She reportedly sustained "abrasions in her genital area that were consistent with rubbing or fondling." Doctors believe she got the wounds within less than 24 hours.

The medical examiner said Benn’s throat had been cut from her neck to her ear, and there was a cut through her backbone. Court documents say her genitalia had been mutilated and stabbed.

Honie reportedly confessed to detectives that he broke into Benn’s house and killed her. He reportedly "expressed remorse for killing the victim, stating repeatedly that Claudia was not meant to die."

Honie went to trial in 1999 and was convicted of aggravated murder with aggravating factors of object rape, forcible sodomy, aggravated sexual assault, burglary, and aggravated burglary. The jury could not reach a verdict on a final aggravating factor of aggravated child sexual abuse.

Honie appealed the verdict and sentence throughout the years, arguing he had ineffective counsel and insufficient evidence to convict him, among other reasons. The Utah Supreme Court affirmed the ruling in May 2014.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said following the execution, "Early this morning the state of Utah fulfilled its legal obligation to carry out the execution of Taberon Honie. The actions of Mr. Honie that lead to his death sentence are heinous. I respect the process of our criminal justice system, and recognize the countless public servants who meticulously planned and approached their responsibilities with professionalism. I hope this brings closure to those impacted by the crimes. My heart goes out to the victim’s family."

Attorney General Sean Reyes also released a statement saying, "We understand there are deeply held beliefs, powerful emotions and divergent views regarding the death penalty. Death by execution is one of the most extreme uses of government power. Many would argue it is ineffective, improper, and beyond the authority of man to exercise. Many would disagree. But there is no dispute that the violent and unprovoked taking of innocent lives from fellow human beings is among the crimes deemed by society to be most vile, repugnant and punishable by the harshest measures possible. In states like Utah, that includes the death penalty."

His statement went on, "As such, the State of Utah approached the exercise of its power and attendant responsibilities with the seriousness and solemnity that such an act merits. We hope opponents of the death penalty allow grace for those who carried out their duties as required by the law and did so with respect, professionalism, and, in some cases, in spite of their own personal views."

Reyes wrote that he hopes Honie’s execution "is a deterrent to other heinous crimes and pray it provides some measure of comfort to those who have been awaiting justice for decades."

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