Raymond Johnson, convicted of killing his former girlfriend and her daughter, will be executed by lethal injection in Oklahoma, after appeals for clemency were rejected.

Raymond Johnson, aged 52, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection in Oklahoma on Thursday, nearly two decades after being convicted for the brutal murder of his ex-girlfriend, Brooke Whitaker, and her seven-month-old daughter, Kya. Johnson was found guilty of the crimes in June 2007, when, after an argument, he struck Whitaker with a hammer, causing severe injuries, and then set the house on fire. Although she called for help, Whitaker died from her injuries and smoke inhalation, while Kya died from severe burns. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond called Johnson a "cruel murderer." Previous appeals from his defense have been denied, and in April, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board refused clemency. At his hearing, Johnson asked for forgiveness, but Whitaker's family insisted on his execution, stating that it would end their ongoing suffering. If the execution takes place, it will be the second this year in Oklahoma and the 11th nationwide.