Former Army counterintelligence worker executed by electric chair for killing Virginia couple

Va. inmate who killed 2 executed by electric chair

JARRATT, Va. — A former Army counterintelligence worker has been executed by electric chair in Virginia for killing a couple in 2001.

Larry Bill Elliott was pronounced dead at 9:08 p.m. Tuesday at Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt. The last execution by electric chair in the U.S. was in June 2008.

Elliott was put to death for the January 2001 shooting deaths of 25-year-old Dana Thrall and 30-year-old Robert Finch.

Prosecutors said Elliott killed the couple to win the love of former stripper who was involved in a bitter custody dispute with the man who was killed.

In the death chamber, Elliott said his attorneys would read a statement after the execution.

At 60, Elliott was Virginia’s oldest death row inmate. Virginia death row inmates can choose between the electric chair and lethal injection.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A death row inmate is scheduled to be executed by electric chair for killing a northern Virginia couple in 2001.

Sixty-year-old Larry Bill Elliott is scheduled to be executed at 9 p.m. Tuesday for the shooting deaths of 25-year-old Dana Thrall and 30-year-old Robert Finch.

Prosecutors say Elliott killed the couple to win the love of former stripper and escort Rebecca Gragg, who was involved in a custody dispute with Finch.

Virginia also uses lethal injection, but since 1995 convicts have been able to choose whether to use the old method of electrocution. Only four of the 80 inmates executed since then have chosen the electric chair.

The U.S. Supreme Court and Gov. Tim Kaine have refused to block the execution.