'Take care': Utah executes Taberon Dave Honie in murder of then-girlfriend's mother

Utah executed a death row inmate for the 1998 murder of his then-girlfriend's mother on Thursday, the 12th execution in the nation this year and the state's first since a firing squad execution in 2010.

Taberon Dave Honie, 48, was executed by lethal injection and pronounced dead on Thursday, at 12:25 a.m. Mountain Time, according to the Utah Department of Corrections. Honie's execution came nearly seven hours after Texas executed Arthur Lee Burton on Wednesday for the murder of Nancy Adleman, a 48-year-old mother of three who was out on a jog in Houston in 1997. 

Honie was convicted for the murder of 49-year-old Claudia Benn, a substance abuse counselor for Utah's Paiute Tribe and a devoted grandmother of three.

Benita Yracheta, Benn's daughter, told USA TODAY on Monday that she feels relief that she can put her mother's brutal death behind her, saying that justice is "finally happening" and at least Honie could prepare for the day.

"My mom, she never knew her death date," she said. "She didn’t know she was gonna die that night."

Here's what to know about the execution, the case, and the victim.

Taberon Dave Honie's last meal, moments with family

The Utah Department of Corrections hosted a press conference livestream, providing hourly updates on Honie. Honie spent most of the day visiting with family members, including his daughter and parents, who had been with him since 10 a.m., according to corrections spokesperson Glenn Mills.

He ate two hot meals over the course of the day, including a breakfast sandwich. His last meal was a cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake.

Honie underwent multiple mental health checks over the course of the day, with a corrections team reporting that Honie was "gracious and appreciative" throughout, Mills said. One of Honie's attorneys had access to a phone in case they had a concern with the execution procedure.

The corrections team ran through the procedure over a handful times to ensure that they had "everything down."

Honie's last words

Honie gave his last words at 12:03 a.m., and used his last words to remind others that change is possible.

“From the start it's been, if it needs to be done for them to heal, let's do this," said Honie. "If they tell you you can't change, don't listen to them. To all my brothers and sisters in here, continue to change. I love you all. Take care."

What happened during the execution?

Media witnesses said when the execution started, it was like watching someone fall asleep.

When a curtain was pulled back in the execution room, Honie was looking up, had an IV in both arms, which were strapped down to a table, said media witness Ben Winslow, a reporter from Fox 13, at a press conference.

Before Honie gave his final words, the warden read the death warrant to him.

Honie looked around the room and began tapping his foot. The witnesses said they weren't sure it was out of nervousness or "just a reaction to what was happening."

He mouthed something to the warden and the director of operations, but witnesses could not hear what he said and then he lifted his head again and took in a "deep exhaling breath and opened his mouth wide."

His breathing then began to accelerate before slowing down. His skin then turned pale and blue, then shortly after, he was pronounced dead.

Differences between lethal injection and firing squad

There isn't "much similarity at all" between Honie's execution and Ronnie Lee Gardner's execution by firing squad in 2010, said Pat Reavy, a reporter with KSL.com who witnessed both executions, at the press conference.

"I guess there's a peaceful way to put someone to death," said Reavy about Honie's execution "That's what this was."

Reavy described the firing squad execution as more traumatic.

"The firing squad execution I thought was much more violent," said Reavy. "It shakes you, it's just so loud."

While Honie's execution took longer, he adds that it really was "like watching a person fall asleep and not wake up again."

'He was worthy of redemption'

"We are saddened that despite this change, the State of Utah did not grant him mercy," said his attorneys, Therese Day and Eric Zuckerman, in a statement. "Mr. Honie’s life had value—he was worthy of redemption, and not being judged solely by his worst actions."

His attorneys said he wasn't the same person he was 26 years ago.

"Honie always accepted responsibility for his crimes and expressed deep remorse for his actions, which were committed while he was extremely intoxicated from drugs and alcohol," "Over the past 25 years, Mr. Honie worked on himself to become a better person"

Utah Attorney General releases statement

Utah's Attorney General Sean D. Reyes released a statement addressing Honie's execution and the "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," said Reyes. "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."

Claudia Benn murdered at home while babysitting

Benn was babysitting her three granddaughters on July 9, 1998. Her daughter, Carol Pikyavit, had been living with Benn along with her 2-year-old daughter, whom she shared with Honie, when Honie called.

He was drunk and angry, and at one point, threatened to kill everyone in the home and take their daughter if Pikyavit didn't make time to see him, court records say.

Not taking the threat seriously, Pikyavit left the home and headed to work.

Honie headed to the house and began arguing with Benn. Honie told police that Benn started the fight and was calling him names through a sliding glass door before he snapped, broke through the door and went inside.

Benn had grabbed a butcher knife but was overpowered by Honie, who grabbed the knife and brought it to her throat, court records say. Honie says the two of them both tripped while the knife was at Benn’s throat and that she fell on the blade.

Police said Benn was found face down in the living room, with numerous “stabbing and cutting wounds” to her neck and genitals, according to court documents. Honie confessed to the murder, telling police that same night he had “stabbed and killed her with a knife,” USA TODAY reported.

All three grandchildren were found at the home with varying degrees of blood on their clothes and body. There was also evidence that one of Benn’s granddaughters was sexually abused at some point, court documents say. 

Honie was arrested, charged and convicted of aggravated murder.

Victim's family looks to execution for closure

Betsy China, Benn's cousin, told USA TODAY on Monday that she wants Benn to be remembered as someone "who helped our people." Coping hasn't been easy for China, as she frequently looked to Benn for guidance in life. Benn always encouraged China, like a coach or sister would, advising her in difficult times. 

“There was a big gap there in leadership within the family” after Benn’s death that remains to this day, China said.

Right now, what she’s focused on is “trying to be here and finish this out,” remembering her cousin in a good way and knowing that justice was served on Thursday.

Yracheta feels similarly, still working to untangle her mother's memory from what happened that night, saying whenever that happens, she tries to “to go to the good memories I have with her."

“I miss her a lot. And every time I think of her, I think of the house and whatnot,” Yracheta said. 

Those “good memories” include an impromptu dance party with impersonators for The Supremes at the Utah State Fair or how her mom worked to put herself through college after she divorced her husband and left Kaibab, Arizona, and moved the family to Utah.

Yracheta and other family members traveled to Salt Lake to witness the execution, hoping to put the past behind them.