MCALESTER, Okla. — Benjamin Cole was executed Thursday morning at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.
His execution came nearly 20 years after he killed his infant daughter in Rogers County. Brianna Cole’s family was present for his execution. They say the focus should be on their blonde-hair, blue eyed niece.
“He did not give Brianna the chance to even grow up, to even have her first Christmas, to meet her family, my first experience with Brianna...is seeing her in her casket,” Donna Daniel, Brianna’s aunt said just moments after the execution in McAlester.
Media witnesses described Cole’s death as uneventful. One media witness said, “it seemed to be pretty smooth, pretty uncomplicated, it was about the same length as the other ones I’ve seen.” Media witnesses said his last words were some sort of religious, prayer-filled speech.
Brianna’s family said his death was easy compared to the horrific one their niece suffered.
“The victims are put down here, out of pocket, out of sight. They’re never brought up,” Dr. Bryan Young, Brianna’s uncle who witnessed the execution said. “Anytime you hear anything regarding this, just like this execution, nothing much said about her, it was always about him, and that is not right.”
The two relatives also said his death came “way too many years later”. Moving forward, they said they want to see victims and their rights talked about and prioritized more than that of their perpetrators.
“Brianna finally has justice today, our family has justice today and we do not have to deal with this anymore. This is justice for Brianna day” her aunt said.
Cole was convicted in 2004 two years after Brianna’s death.
Part in the delay of this execution were appeals to Cole’s mental health. However, the Oklahoma Supreme Court denied his last minute appeal just last week. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted against a clemency recommendation for Cole last month.