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Two Executions Scheduled Next Week In Terre Haute Amid Other Inmate COVID-19 Deaths

(Adam Pinsker, WFIU/WTIU News)

William LeCroy was convicted of murdering and raping 30-year-old Joann Tisler in her Gilmer County, Georgia home in 2001. He then stole Tisler's car and was arrested by authorities while trying to cross into Canada.  

LeCroy previously spent 10 years in federal and state prisons for assault, rape and child molestation.

He is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on September 22nd, at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute.

Christopher Vialva was convicted for his part in the carjacking and murders of 28-year-old Todd and Stacie Bagley in 1999.  Vialva and his co-defendants robbed and shot the couple while they prayed for their abductors, before setting the car on fire.

Vialva's co-defendant, Brandon Bernard was also sentenced to death and is awaiting an execution date.

Vialva's mother, Lisa Brown says her son expressed remorse for the crime.  His attorneys are asking President Trump to commute Vialva's sentence to life in prison.

“I’m holding up pretty good, all things considered, but I haven’t come up to that moment yet either, so I’m still holding onto my faith and praying for a miracle," she said.

Vialva is scheduled to be executed on Setember 24th at the same facility.  Brown plans to attend her son's execution.

Meantime, two inmates have died in as many days from coronavirus at the federal prison complex where the U.S. government plans to carry out two executions next week.  As of Tuesday, more than 40 inmates had confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the prison complex, according to the agency’s statistics. The virus deaths are likely to raise alarm with advocates and lawyers for the condemned men over the spread of coronavirus at prison complex. The government carried out five other executions this summer.