Man executed for killing elementary school teacher during burglary

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - A former clerical worker convicted of abducting and killing an elementary school teacher in 1987 was executed by injection Thursday. It was the state's third execution this week.

James Edward Clayton, 33, was condemned for the murder of Lori Barrett, 27, who apparently surprised him while he was robbing her apartment near Abilene Christian University.

Barrett's body was found bound with an electrical cord and wrapped in a blanket 12 days after she disappeared. She had been shot in the head, neck and shoulder, and her body had been dumped beside a rural road.

Before his execution, Clayton, who had maintained he was innocent, said he would like to follow Christ's example and ''leave with peace in my heart and forgiveness.''

''There is no anger in my heart about this entire situation,'' he said.

Clayton, a New York native, was arrested four days before Barrett's body was discovered. A prosecutor said witnesses told authorities they saw Clayton driving Barrett's car after she was reported missing. Her car was found abandoned on the college campus.

Police searched Clayton's home nearby and found items belonging to Barrett in a trash container and her car insurance identification card in his residence.

Clayton was among seven inmates who tried to break out of the Ellis Unit on Thanksgiving night 1998. One inmate escaped but was shot by guards as he climbed a fence and later was found dead in a creek not far from the prison. The six others surrendered.