Texas is responsible for roughly 40% of all death sentences in the country (creative commons)

Since resuming the practice of capital punishment in 1982, the state of Texas has currently carried out 500 executions.

Kimberly McCarthy, 52, and a former nursing home therapist, was the 500th prisoner to be executed on Wednesday night, as well as the first women in nearly three years to face the death sentence. She was charged for the murder of her 71-year-old neighbor in a 1997 robbery. The victim was a retired college psychology professor, Dorothy Booth, who had agreed to share a cup of sugar with McCarthy before being attack, stabbed, and robbed.

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McCarthy was pronounced dead at 6:37 p.m., 20 minutes after Texas prison officials had injected her with a single lethal dose of pentobarbital.

From CBS News: 

“Texas has carried out nearly 40 percent of the more than 1,300 executions in the U.S. since the Supreme Court allowed capital punishment to resume in 1976. The state's standing stems from its size as the nation's second-most populous state as well as its tradition of tough justice for killers.

With increased debate in recent years over wrongful convictions, some states have halted the practice entirely. However, 32 states have the death penalty on the books. Though Texas still carries out executions, lawmakers have provided more sentencing options for juries and courts have narrowed the cases for which death can be sought.”

McCarthy was among ten other women and seven men on death row in Texas, but was the only woman with an execution date. She was the eighth Texas prisoner executed this year. 

From USA Today: 

“In her final statement, McCarthy did not mention her status as the 500th inmate to be executed or acknowledge Booth or her family.

"This is not a loss. This is a win. You know where I'm going. I'm going home to Jesus. I love you all," she said, while looking toward her witnesses, who included her ex-husband, her attorney and her spiritual adviser.

As the drug started to take effect, McCarthy said, "God is great," before closing her eyes. She took hard, raspy, loud breaths for several seconds before becoming quiet. Then, her chest moved up and down for another minute before she stopped breathing.”

Reach Executive Producer Eric Parra here.