'We watched a man die:' Reporter's account of Florida man's execution

​Mark Asay: Convicted killer, who took his last breaths strapped to a Florida State Prison gurney.

He killed two people in the 1980s -- Robert Lee Booker and Robert McDowell.

Decades later, Asay would finally be put to death, despite numerous appeals.

The Latest: Florida executes convicted killer using new drug

He is the first white man in Florida put to death for killing a black man.

He was the first in the U.S. put to death by a new lethal drug.

Twenty-eight people watched his execution, one of them was me.

August 24, 2017:

4:15 p.m. My photographer and I are waiting in the designated media area. I am reading through a packet provided by the DOC. It explained Asay's final day. He was given his last meal, fried pork chops, fried ham, french fries, vanilla swirl ice cream, and a coke. He would be given a shower and return to his cell. Asay met with family in the morning, and a spiritual advisor. We were told he was "in good spirits."

5:00 p.m. A white van pulled into the media area, We were called by name, signed a sheet, and got into the van. We are bussed into the Florida State Prison. Myself and seven other members of the media sat in a visitors area inside the prison. We were given two #2 pencils and a notepad.

5:48 p.m. We are told there is a delay. (It was never clarified what this delay was.)

5:55 p.m. We are told to line up. We pile into the van again and are taken to another area of the prison. We are escorted into a white room. Close to 20 people were already inside. There are three rows of seats. Media is seated in the back row. In front of us was a large window. There was a burlap-colored curtain covering it.

We are not allowed to talk. Everyone is facing forward, waiting.

6:10 The Curtain was raised.

Below is a photo of what the chamber looks like. Asay slightly sat up and looked out when the curtain went up. There are 3 men in the room with him.

One man supervising the execution asked Asay if he had any last words. His response: "No sir, I do not. Thank you."

The man then says "The execution phase will begin."

6:12 Asay closed his eyes. He began moving his mouth, but was not speaking.

6:14 One of the men brushes his face, then shakes Asay. During this time, on the other side where the witnesses are, it is silent with the occasional violent thunder from the storms outside.

In my notes, I have 6:15 and 6:16 written down, but nothing beside them. I was observing others at this time. There was a man in a blue suit who seemed emotional. A person with DOC asked if he needed to step out. He said no.

At this moment, I remember thinking, no one is going to stop this. I guess it still hadn't set in what was happening. Time for me slowed, I was looking around, looking at what was going on in front of us. There is no way to prepare for this. No one cried, no one made a scene, everyone just sat there.
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If you look at the photo close, above the execution bed there is a mirror facing the witnesses. I looked into the mirror and saw the faces of the people seated in front of me, Emotionless, and stoic. No witness list was provided, I knew of one prosecutor and later found out Asay's spiritual advisor was there too.

The phone you see on the wall next to it, there is an open line to the Governor's office. He is on the line from start to finish.

6:20 A doctor walks into the room, he checks Asay's eyes, and listens for a heartbeat.

6:22 It is announced that the sentence against Mark Asay has been carried out.

The curtain closes.

We are then led back onto the bus. You ride back with a handful of strangers with whom you just experienced an intimate moment. It's hard to put into words...

We watched a man die.

Cox Media Group