BY GREGORY A. HALL
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Harold McQueen Becky O'Hearn

EDDYVILLE, Ky. - Convicted murderer Harold McQueen went to his death early this morning saying he felt confident he would be united with God in heaven.

His last words were: ''I love you father,'' referring to his spiritual adviser, Paul Stevens, who walked with Mr. McQueen to the death chamber and offered a final prayer.

Mr. McQueen, 44, shot Rebecca O'Hearn, a Richmond convenience store clerk trying to work her way through graduate school, in the face and the back of the head in 1980.

His hands were clenched tightly before the electricity surged through his body. Then a puff of steam rose from a dampened sponge on his right leg, and he slumped in the chair. He was pronounced dead at 12:15 a.m. CDT (1:15 a.m. EDT), becoming the 163rd man to die in Kentucky's electric chair.

Before the execution, he offered apologies to two families, his own and that of Miss O'Hearn. He also thanked people who sent him cards, letters and prayers.

''And everyone who sent me that, tell them to keep fighting the death penalty,'' he said.

Mr. McQueen spent his final hours talking with Mr. Stevens and attorney Randy Wheeler as well as with family members by phone.

For a last meal, Mr. McQueen asked for two cheesecakes. The first, pudding-style like his mother used to make, was bought by Ruth Byrd, the prison's food service administrator, at Patti's Restaurant in Grand Rivers. A New York-style cheesecake was bought from Sam's in Paducah.

Ms. Byrd decorated each with magnolia leaves and a magnolia blossom. Mr. McQueen thanked her. He had nothing to drink with the meal, which was delivered to him about 6:30 p.m. He ate it with Mr. Stevens.

The area around the Kentucky State Penitentiary resembled martial law Monday evening with National Guard troops, state police and prison security guards stationed at various checkpoints.

The penitentiary was placed on lockdown - meaning all inmates had to stay in their cells except for meals - beginning at 6 a.m. Monday.

About 225 protesters, most against the death penalty, gathered on a nearby firing range. A limousine driver bringing a radio contest winner to Eddyville was arrested for possession of marijuana.

In a special holding cell near the execution chamber, Mr. McQueen, who was on drugs and booze when he committed the murder, spent his final hours talking to Mr. Stevens.

Shortly after 9 p.m., his head and right calf were shaved, and he showered. He donned the red jumpsuit all inmates wear - with one exception. The right leg was cut off up to the knee so an electrode could be attached to his skin.

The Rev. Maurice Tiell, an Eddyville priest, administered last rites. Mr. McQueen spent his final moments in Cell 13 with Mr. Stevens.

At midnight, he was escorted to the execution chamber. Mr. Stevens said a final prayer and stood outside. Members of a volunteer execution squad strapped him in and attached a head-gear with a leather veil. A moist sponge was placed in between the helmet and his skull.

After a final check for any court delays, Warden Phil Parker ordered the execution.

Two minutes are needed. Three buttons are pushed by three guards - one of which starts the process - and 2,100 volts are released for 15 seconds, resulting in 7.5 amps. The cycle continues with about 250 volts for 105 seconds, which results in 1 amp. The amps are what kill.

The electric chair was tested Sunday night and again at 9 p.m. Monday - without problems - by hooking resistors to the electrodes.

Mr. McQueen requested three witnesses: Mr. Wheeler, an attorney with the state Department of Public Advocacy who has represented him; Rose Mary Butler, a research student and friend; and Hagit Limor, a reporter for WCPO-TV (Channel 9).

The victim's father, Charles O'Hearn, asked to watch Mr. McQueen die but was denied his request because there is no such provision in Kentucky's laws, Department of Corrections spokesman Michael Bradley said.

Outside the prison, a hearse waited to take Mr. McQueen's body to a Berea funeral home.

He spent the day meeting with his mother, Helen Burnell, an aunt, Virginia Ballinger, and friends June Linville and her daughter, Misty Platt.

Miss Linville, his girlfriend from Berea, said Mr. McQueen spent the morning packing his belongings and calling friends. She visited with him in his cell.

He requested that his personal belongings be sent to his mother. He asked that his snacks be given to other death row inmates.

Mr. McQueen's death was the first in 35 years in the oak electric chair at the penitentiary. The last was the execution of Kelly Moss of Henderson on March 2, 1962.

Attorneys for Mr. McQueen spent Monday filing unsuccessful last-minute appeals with a number of courts.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected all of Mr. McQueen's appeals late in the day. But Justice John Paul Stevens said in a brief order that he would have granted a stay of execution so the court could consider one of Mr. McQueen's claims - that electrocution is a cruel and unusual punishment, prohibited by the U.S. Constitution.

Gov. Paul Patton formally denied clemency for the convicted murderer.

His attorneys presented the governor with a binder Monday requesting the sentence be commuted to life in prison without parole or be delayed until Kentucky considers approving death by lethal injection next year. The binder included pictures of Mr. McQueen assisting at prison Masses.

''I wish they could look inside my heart and really see how sorry I am,'' he wrote.

Mr. McQueen, who acquaintances say became a devout Catholic in his 16 years on death row, said entering the death chamber would be ''kind of like the gateway to heaven.''

Julie Irwin and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

EXECUTIONS TOP NEWS, BUT FOR HOW LONG? Karen Samples column

Previous stories

DEATH LOOMS FOR KILLER June 30, 1997
AS EXECUTION NEARS, SENTIMENT WELLS UP June 29, 1997
PUBLIC DEMANDS DEATH PENALTY June 29, 1997
OBSERVANCES June 29, 1997
TIME LINE June 29, 1997
COURT LIFTS DELAY OF EXECUTION June 28, 1997
KILLER'S APPEALS MULTIPLY June 27, 1997
DOES IT MATTER HOW WE KILL EACH OTHER? Laura Pulfer column, June 26, 1997
KILLER IN FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE June 26, 1997
REQUEST TO DIE FUELS DEATH PENALTY DEBATE June 26, 1997