Utah officials have rejected clemency for Taberon Dave Honie, who is facing execution by lethal injection on August 8 for the murder of his girlfriend’s mother in 1998. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, headed by Scott Stephenson, announced the decision after a two-day commutation hearing where Honie requested his sentence be commuted to life in prison, citing heavy drinking and drug use influencing his actions which led to the death of Claudia Benn.
During the hearing, Honie expressed his desire to live in order to support his mother and daughter, but the victim’s family advocated for his execution, emphasizing Benn’s role as a beloved member of the community and family. Honie broke into Benn’s home in Cedar City and brutally murdered her in front of her grandchildren, including his own daughter, resulting in his conviction for aggravated murder in 1999.
Honie’s defense presented evidence detailing his troubled childhood on the Hopi Indian Reservation, highlighting the impact of intergenerational trauma and substance abuse within his family. However, the state argued that the trauma caused by Honie’s actions outweighed his troubled past. Despite objections to the planned lethal injection process, which was later revised, Honie’s execution warrant was signed in June, marking the first execution in Utah since 2010.
With only seven people on death row in the state, Honie’s case has sparked debate about the justice system’s handling of capital punishment. His attorneys continue to raise concerns about the execution plan and its implications for Honie’s constitutional rights, signaling ongoing legal battles as the execution date approaches.
