Leavitt maintains his innocence

Condemned inmate Richard Leavitt says he’s made his peace with God and he’s ready to die.

He is four days away from lethal injection, but Friday, he picked up the phone and called our news partners in Boise to tell his story.

Leavitt’s spent the past 27 years sitting in a cell at the state prison outside Boise. It’s given him time to think, but one thought hasn’t changed in those nearly three decades.

“I did not kill, was not there, did not mutilate Danette Elg,” Leavitt said by phone.

The man police said stabbed 31-year-old Elg at least 15 times before cutting out her sexual organs maintains his innocence.

Answering a question about why his blood was found on a pillow case in Elg’s bedroom, Leavitt said, “I had a nosebleed a week before.”

Prosecutor Tom Moss responded to that very argument.

“Of course, her mother had been and said, ‘No, I was down there, I was in her room’ after Leavitt said he picked up all these things and got blood on everything. (She) said the bed was made, everything was immaculate,” Moss said.

“Are you angry, bitter? You claim you’re an innocent man,” Leavitt was asked.

“What more can I do? If I am angry and bitter and say evil things about people, that only reflects negatively on me when I stand before God,” he said.

Leavitt’s attorneys said the Blackfoot man passed a lie detector test, but those aren’t admissible in court.

Leavitt’s mother Marge broke her silence for the first time this week. She talked only to our Kylie Bearse. She also believes her son is innocent.

“Nobody wants to hear the good,” Marge said. “They only want the bad; I want the truth! If there’s any doubt as to whether or not, and this lie detector is doubt, you don’t execute somebody until you know for sure.”

But in these final days, Leavitt’s time to think turns to his last words.

“I don’t plan to say anything. What can I say. I’m sitting here telling you I am about to be executed for a crime I did not commit.”

Leavitt said he plans to spend his final days visiting with his family.

Our complete coverage of the Leavitt execution begins Monday night. Kylie Bearse will be live at the state prison in Boise.