Oklahoma Kills Raymond Johnson for Two Murders

May 14, 2026, 15:24
USOther

Introduction

Raymond Johnson was 52 years old. The state of Oklahoma killed him on Thursday.

Main Body

In 2007, Johnson killed Brooke Whitaker and her baby daughter. He hit Brooke with a hammer. Then he put gas on her and the house. He started a fire. Both the mother and baby died. Johnson's lawyers tried to stop the death penalty. They said the police were wrong. But the judges said no. The board also said no to his request for help. Johnson had other crimes in the past. In 1996, he killed another person. He went to prison for nine years for that crime.

Conclusion

Johnson died at 10:12 a.m. on Thursday. This is the second person Oklahoma killed this year.

Learning

πŸ•°οΈ Talking About the Past

In this story, almost every action happened in the past. To tell a story about something that is finished, we often add -ed to the action word.

Look at these changes:

  • Try β†’\rightarrow Tried
  • Start β†’\rightarrow Started

But watch out! Some words are 'rule-breakers.' They change completely. You just have to remember them:

  • Kill β†’\rightarrow Killed (Follows the rule!)
  • Put β†’\rightarrow Put (Stays the same!)
  • Go β†’\rightarrow Went (Changes completely!)
  • Say β†’\rightarrow Said (Changes completely!)

Quick Guide: Past Time Words When we use these words, we usually need the past version of the action:

  • In 2007...
  • In 1996...
  • On Thursday...
  • In the past...

Vocabulary Learning

killed (v.)
to cause someone to die
Example:The fire killed the house.
death (n.)
the end of life; when someone dies
Example:The death of the baby was a tragedy.
lawyer (n.)
a person who helps people with legal problems
Example:The lawyer tried to stop the death penalty.
judge (n.)
a person who decides cases in court
Example:The judge said no to his request.
police (n.)
people who keep the law and protect people
Example:The police were wrong about the case.
wrong (adj.)
not correct or fair
Example:The police were wrong.
help (n.)
support or assistance
Example:The board said no to his request for help.
prison (n.)
a place where people are locked up for breaking the law
Example:He went to prison for nine years.
crime (n.)
an illegal act
Example:He had other crimes in the past.
Thursday (n.)
the day after Wednesday
Example:He died at 10:12 a.m. on Thursday.