The state of Texas carried out the execution of 38-year-old Travis Mullis on Tuesday for the killing of his 3-month-old son 16 years ago. Mullis was executed by way of lethal injection and had waived the right to appeal his death sentence. This was one of five executions scheduled to take place in the U.S. in a seven-day span.

Mullis was pronounced dead at 7:01 p.m. CDT at a state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, according to the Texas Department of Corrections. He used his last words to thank those who had supported him.

“I’d like to thank everyone … that accepted me for the man I became during my best and worst moments,” Mullis said while strapped to the death chamber gurney.

Mullis also used his final words to thank prison staff and officials for “changes made across the system” that allowed “even the men on death row to show it is possible to be rehabilitated and not deemed a threat and not the men we were when we came into this system.”

He added that he does not regret taking steps to legally expedite the process of his execution by waiving his right appeal. He said that he did regret killing his son and also apologized to his son’s mother. He concluded by saying he held no ill will towards those carrying out his execution and said “It was my decision that put me here.”

Mullis in 2008 drove from his home in Brazoria County to Galveston, Texas after having a fight with his girlfriend. The then 21-year-old then parked his car and sexually assaulted his son, causing the child to cry uncontrollably. Mullis then began to strangle his son before pulling him out of the car and stomping him to death in the parking lot. The child’s body was found on the roadside after Mullis fled the state. He was later found in Philadelphia and surrendered to authorities without incident, according to authorities.

The lethal injection was delayed by about 20 minutes as technicians had trouble finding a suitable vein ( Image: Texas Department of Criminal Jus)

Mullis’ attorneys said on Tuesday ahead of the execution that they would be making not-late appeals to attempt to halt the sentence being carried out. His attorney Shawn Nolan said in a statement on Tuesday that the state of Texas would be executing a “redeemed man” who has always accepted responsibility for his son’s death.

The lethal injection was delayed by about 20 minutes as technicians had trouble finding a suitable vein for the IV. Mullis’ execution was the fourth carried out by the state of Texas this year and was one of two taking place in the county aa Missouri executed convicted murderer Marcellus Williams Tuesday after the U.S. Supreme Court denied his appeal. There are two more executions scheduled for this week in Oklahoma and Alabama. South Carolina carried out the execution of Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah, formerly known as Freddie Owens, on Friday.