WTHR |Inmate executed for killing Muncie police officer

Inmate executed for killing Muncie police officer

Michigan City - The man convicted of fatally shooting a Muncie police officer more than 16 years ago was executed early Friday.

Michael Lambert, 36, was pronounced dead at 12:29 a.m. CDT following the lethal injection procedure, Indiana State Prison spokesman Barry Nothstine said. Lambert did not offer a final statement.

At midnight, white lights of protest shone from death penalty opponents who stood outside the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. There were blue lights of support held by relatives of police and other slain lawmen remembering Greg Winters.

Molly Winters, her two sons and supporters left the prison with the justice they have waited more than 16 years for.

"Relief," Molly Winters said tearfully. "Justice has been served and look at all the blue lights behind you - it tells us that Greg has not been forgotten and everything he stood for."

"This part's over even though it's still not gonna bring Dad back," said Kyle Winters. "Just a relief."

Officer Winters was shot to death in his patrol car by Michael Lambert. Winters' brother, a Muncie police deputy chief, witnessed the execution.

"His death was a lot smoother than what my brother's was and his punishment for that crime was death and it's been carried out and that's the end of it," said Terry Winters.

During the last 16 years, Molly Winters has said she's been on a journey that at times felt as though she were in prison as well.

"There is a feeling of being set free because when Lambert put those five shots in the back of Greg's head, I said as long as I live, I will be at every court hearing and I will do everything I can do every step of the way to make sure that one day Greg will rest peacefully and that there will be justice, and it's done," she said.

Now Molly Winters continues her journey, embraced and surrounded by friends.

Lambert's execution for the killing of Officer Gregg Winters came about nine hours after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected, without commenting, his final appeal. 

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday denied, without commenting, to grant Lambert's request that the execution be blocked. That step came a day after Governor Mitch Daniels denied his clemency petition.