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Final hours spent writing goodbyes

By Nolan Clay | Modified: June 11, 2001 at 12:00 am | Published: June 11, 2001

TERRE HAUTE, IND. Timothy McVeigh stayed in "amazingly good spirits Sunday as he spent his final hours writing goodbye letters in the holding cell of the execution facility, his attorneys said.

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For live coverage and updates from Terre Haute, Ind., on this morning's execution of bomber Timothy McVeigh, tune into NEWS9. For online updates and coverage all day: Oklahoman.com.

"Mr. McVeigh's temperament is very even. He is calm. He is himself. He is prepared to go forward with this, attorney Rob Nigh told reporters in a grassy field outside the U.S. Penitentiary.

McVeigh, 33, will be moved from the cell to the execution chamber a few feet away by 7 a.m. today. He will be put to death by an injection of three poisons.

McVeigh was removed from death row at 4:10 a.m. Sunday and taken in a white van with barricaded windows to the execution facility, just west of the main building. Guards wearing bullet-proof vests walked alongside the van for the short trip. He was inside the holding cell by 4:30 a.m.

"Inmate McVeigh was cooperative, and the movement occurred without incident, prison officials said.

The transfer was McVeigh's last time outdoors. Nigh said McVeigh "was able to look up in the sky for the first time in a number of years and see the moon.

"That was very valuable to him.