Michael F. Easley
Governor

Theodis Beck
Secretary

North Carolina Department of Correction

Execution date set for William Dillard Powell

RALEIGH - Correction Secretary Theodis Beck has set March 11, 2005 as the execution date for inmate William Dillard Powell.  The execution is scheduled for 2:00 a.m. at Central Prison in Raleigh.

Powell, 58, was sentenced to death April 29, 1993 in Cleveland County Superior Court for the Oct. 31, 1991 murder of Mary Gladden.

Central Prison Warden Marvin Polk will explain the execution procedures during a media tour scheduled for Monday, March 7 at 10:00 a.m.  Interested media representatives should arrive at Central Prison’s visitor center promptly at 10:00 a.m. on the tour date.  The session will last approximately one hour.

The media tour will be the only opportunity to photograph the execution chamber and deathwatch area before the execution.  Journalists who plan to attend the tour should contact the Department of Correction Public Affairs Office at (919) 716-3700 by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 4.

ATTENTION EDITORS: A photo of William Dillard Powell (#0329098) can be obtained by using the "Offender Search" function on the Department of Correction Web site at www.doc.state.nc.us. For more information about the death penalty, including selection of witnesses, click on “The Death Penalty” link.

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North Carolina Department of Correction
Public Information Office     4202 Mail Service Center     Raleigh NC 27699-4202
Phone (919) 716-3700      Fax: (919) 716-3795     www.doc.state.nc.us