USA - Florida. William Van Poyck, 58, White, was executed

William Van Poyck, 58, White, was executed for the murder of a guard, Fred Griffis, in the summer of 1987 during a botched prison van ambush intended to free an imprisoned friend. Van Poyck's case garnered international attention because he published 3 books and maintained a blog while on death row. He even wrote recently about his pending execution. William Van Poyck and Frank Valdes ambushed a prison van outside a West Palm Beach doctor's office in a failed attempt to free James O'Brien - with whom they'd served time. Griffis was fatally shot after he threw the van's keys into the bushes to foil the escape. Van Poyck and Valdes were captured following a car chase. In 1999, Valdes was stomped to death in prison. 7 guards were charged with his death, but none were convicted. Van Poyck becomes the 3rd inmate to be put to death this year in Florida, the 77th overall since the state resumed capital punishment in 1979, the 14th to be put to death this year in the USA and the 1334th overall since the nation resumed executions on January 17, 1977.