Killer makes his final preparations

Thursday, March 25, 2004 | 9:43 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Lawrence Colwell Jr. has had a number of visitors and is making telephone calls during his final days before his scheduled execution Friday night for the murder of a Las Vegas tourist.

"He seems calm at this point," said Fritz Schlottman, public information officer for the Nevada Department of Corrections, who talked with the condemned man Wednesday in his cell at the Nevada State Prison.

For his final meal Colwell wants a cheeseburger with three slices of American cheese, grilled well-done, french fries, three slices of pepperoni pizza and three pints of ice cream mixed between chocolate and vanilla. He has requested bottled water, Pepsi and Coke, a banana, red apple and an orange before his execution. For lunch Friday he wants two grilled cheese sandwiches with American cheese and seven slices of dill pickles.

Colwell has written a letter of thanks to the staff of the prison "for the professionalism and conduct in dealing with me these last few days." He singled out officers Ken Grafton and T. Needham for their "thoughtfulness and kindness."

He is scheduled to meet with his mother Ruby Culp today. Culp of Grants Pass, Ore., told a reporter this morning, "I don't want to talk to you. Leave me alone."

Besides his mother Colwell has met with his spiritual adviser, who was not identified, and with the public defender's office.

"He is making phone calls," said Schlottman. The only change in Colwell's routine is he is not exercising in the yard.

Colwell had said earlier he had planned to make a decision by Wednesday as to whether he would seek a stay of his execution and continue his appeal. His self-imposed deadline has passed, but he could still get the execution postponed if he changed his mind.

Colwell was convicted of strangling Frank Rosenstock, 76, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who was in Las Vegas for a visit. Colwell's girlfriend Merrilee Paul lured Rosenstock to a room in a Strip hotel.

Colwell entered and strangled Rosenstock with a belt. The couple took $91 and the credit cards of the victim. Paul got a life term in prison.

Colwell asked for the death penalty and has decided to forego further appeals.

Colwell is to die by lethal injection at 9 p.m. Friday at the state prison. He will first be administered sodium thiopental to put him to sleep. Then 20 milligrams of Pavulon will be injected into his veins to shut down his lungs followed by potassium chloride to stop his heart.

The process takes several minutes.

About 30 members of a group called Nevada Coalition Against the Death Penalty plan to conduct a candlelight vigil outside the prison to protest the execution.