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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (AP) - A former police officer who murdered nine people during a 1986 crime spree has been executed after his attorneys' last-minute appeals were rejected.

Manuel Pardo was pronounced dead at Florida State Prison at 7:47 p.m., about 16 minutes after the lethal injection process began. His attorneys had tried to block the execution by arguing that he was mentally ill, but federal courts declined to intercede.

Reporters could not hear his final statement because of an apparent malfunction in the death chamber's sound system.

Prison officials said his final words were, "Airborne forever. I love you, Michi baby." Pardo was likely referring to his daughter.