ROCKVILLE — Isabella Del Toro was executed by electric chair at Rockville Penitentiary early Tuesday morning, bringing an end to a tense final night in which prison officials said the condemned inmate became increasingly distressed as the hour of her execution approached.
Del Toro was pronounced dead at 7:10 a.m., six minutes after the execution process began, according to penitentiary officials.
Prison staff said Del Toro spent most of her final 24 hours inside a death-watch cell, where she received visits from members of her legal team and a spiritual adviser.
Those who observed her described significant changes in her demeanor throughout the day. At times, Del Toro reportedly appeared calm and cooperative. At others, she became angry and agitated.
Officials said she slept little during her final night. Guards occasionally observed her lying on her bed and believed she may have dozed for several hours.
At approximately 5:30 a.m., Del Toro was served her requested final meal: fried eggs over a corn tortilla with refried beans and ranchero sauce, fried potatoes, coffee and an éclair doughnut.
She reportedly ate only a few bites.
Del Toro was later taken to a preparation area, where she showered before portions of her head and right leg were shaved to allow for placement of the electric chair's electrodes.
At approximately 6:50 a.m., correctional officers arrived to escort Del Toro to the execution chamber.
According to prison officials, Del Toro became highly resistant during the transfer. Officers restrained her with handcuffs and removed her from the cell as she cried and struggled against them.
Witness accounts described a chaotic final walk to the chamber, with several officers assisting in moving Del Toro down the corridor. She continued resisting after entering the execution room as officers secured her into the chair.
Restraints were fastened around her ankles, wrists, upper arms, abdomen and torso.
When the curtain separating the execution chamber from the witness room was opened, witnesses reported hearing Del Toro let out a prolonged moan.
Asked whether she wished to make a final statement, Del Toro blamed other members of her gang for the murder that resulted in her death sentence.
“You think this is justice? The real murderers are still out there. They put me up to this. It's not my fault. You're killing the wrong person. Please! This isn't right.”
Following her statement, officials secured a mouth restraint and placed a black hood over her head. Electrical cables were then connected to electrodes positioned at her head and right leg.
Witnesses reported hearing Del Toro apparently speaking or crying beneath the hood, although her words could not be understood.
At 7:04 a.m., the executioner activated the electric chair.
According to officials, Del Toro received three one-minute electrical cycles at approximately 2,300 volts. During the second cycle, witnesses reported seeing a small amount of wispy white smoke near the head electrode.
After the final cycle ended, a physician entered the chamber and examined Del Toro.
She was pronounced dead at 7:10 a.m.
Rockville Penitentiary officials said the execution procedure was completed according to protocol and that there were no equipment failures or other technical complications.
Officials acknowledged Del Toro's resistance created difficulties during the transfer to the chamber but said correctional officers had trained for the possibility that a condemned prisoner might refuse to cooperate.
The execution concluded shortly after sunrise, ending a final night marked by visits from advisers, little sleep, a largely untouched final meal and an emotional confrontation with officers in the minutes before Del Toro's death.