Who were Daniel Lewis Lee’s victims William Frederick Mueller, Nancy Ann Mueller and Sarah Elizabeth Powell?
William Frederick Mueller worked as a local gun dealer in Tilly, Arkansas.
Less than a year before, Mr Mueller told authorities that his home had been burgled of firearms and other items worth more than £40,000 ($50,000).
According to the Southern Poverty Law Centre, Mueller feared the white supremacist gang would return to their home in the remote Ozark Woods after the burglary.
The family were then murdered at the property in January 1996.
Who was Daniel Lewis Lee? Former Death Row inmate killed in the first US federal execution in 17 years
The execution took place in Indiana today
Daniel Lewis Lee and an accomplice were convicted of killing three members of a family in 1996.
Lee’s execution had been blocked after his victims’ relatives sought to have it delayed, fearing that attending could expose them to coronavirus.
An initial ruling by the appeal court meant the execution by lethal injection would go ahead. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals said in its ruling that the family's claim "lacks any arguable legal basis and is therefore frivolous".
However, the execution date was thrown into serious doubt after a last-minute federal court appeal, when a district judge ordered a new delay in federal executions.
Today, the 47-year-old was put to death by lethal execution.
Here, we take a look at the crimes of Daniel Lewis Lee and why this execution was so significant.
Who was Daniel Lewis Lee?
Daniel Lewis Lee was a self-confessed white supremacist from Yukon, Oklahoma.
Court documents state that he also went by the name of Daniel Lewis Graham, D L Graham, and Danny Lee.
He was found guilty of taking part in the murder of three members of the same family 24 years ago.
Why was he on Death Row?
Lee was convicted of murdering three members of the Mueller family, a family of Jewish descent who lived in Searcy County, Arkansas in 1996.
William Frederick Mueller, his wife Nancy Ann Mueller and his 8-year-old stepdaughter, Sarah Elizabeth Powell were all killed.
The year before, his accomplice Chevie Kehoe had burgled the family home to steal a large collection of guns, ammunition and money.
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