Woman asks for a stay in the execution of Donald Moeller - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

Woman asks for a stay in the execution of Donald Moeller

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By Kim Wilson, Multimedia Producer - bio | email
Moeller was convicted for the 1990 kidnapping, rape and murder of 9-year-old Becky O'Connell. Moeller was convicted for the 1990 kidnapping, rape and murder of 9-year-old Becky O'Connell.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -

A woman with loose family ties to South Dakota death row inmate Donald Moeller is asking a federal court to stop his upcoming execution.

Moeller was convicted for the 1990 kidnapping, rape and murder of 9-year-old Becky O'Connell. He recently asked a federal judge to dismiss his appeals and let him die.

Donna Nichols, whose mother married Moeller's stepfather, says Moeller wasn't psychologically qualified to dismiss his appeals.

On Monday, attorney Robert Van Norman asked U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol Monday to issue a stay and appoint Nichols as a friend of the court.

Moeller's execution is set for the week of Oct. 28. His attorney, Mark Marshall, says the 60-year-old inmate wants the execution to proceed.

Authorities say Moeller drove O'Connell to a secluded area, raped and killed her.

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