US man executed in boy`s rape, murder

Starke (Florida): A man was executed in Florida for raping and killing a nine-year-old boy 18 years ago, a death that spurred the victim`s parents to press nationwide for stronger sexual predator confinement laws and better handling of child abduction cases.

Juan Carlos Chavez, 46, was pronounced dead at 0647 IST Thursday after a lethal injection at Florida State Prison, according to Governor Rick Scott`s office. Chavez made no final statement in the death chamber, though prison officials said he had submitted something in writing. He moved his feet frequently after the injection began at 0432 IST but two minutes later stopped moving. Chavez abducted Jimmy Ryce at gunpoint after the boy got off a school bus on September 11, 1995, in rural Miami-Dade County. Testimony showed Chavez raped the boy, shot him when he tried to escape, then dismembered his body and hid the parts in concrete-covered planters. Ryce`s parents turned the tragedy`s pain into a push for stronger US laws regarding confinement of sexual predators and improved police procedures in missing child cases. Their foundation provided hundreds of free canines to law enforcement agencies to aid in searches for children. Despite an intensive search in 1995 by police and volunteers, regular appeals for help through the media and distribution of flyers about Jimmy, it wasn`t until three months later that Chavez`s landlady discovered the boy`s book bag and the murder weapon a revolver Chavez had stolen from her house in the trailer where Chavez lived. Chavez later confessed to police and led them to Jimmy`s remains. He was tried and found guilty of murder, sexual battery and kidnapping. Chavez`s most recent state and federal court appeals have focused on claims that Florida`s lethal injection procedure is unconstitutional, that he didn`t get due process during clemency hearings and that he should have an execution stay to pursue additional appeals in the federal courts. The Florida Supreme Court, however, refused on Wednesday morning to stay the execution to allow Chavez time to pursue those challenges, and the US Supreme Court followed suit hours later.