JIM SALTER, Associated Press

BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) — A former methamphetamine dealer has been executed for killing three people in rural northern Missouri.

Fifty-four-year-old John Middleton was put to death Wednesday in the sixth execution in Missouri this year. Only Florida and Texas, with seven each, have performed more.

Middleton was convicted of killing Randy “Happy” Hamilton, Stacey Hodge and Alfred Pinegar in 1995. Authorities say he killed the three out of fear that they would report his drug activity to police.

His girlfriend is serving life in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in all three cases.

Middleton’s attorneys claimed he was innocent, citing a new witness who came forward in February saying that rival meth dealers, not Middleton, were responsible for the killings. They also claimed he was mentally ill.

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BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to halt a Missouri execution, leaving few options for convicted killer John Middleton.

Middleton is scheduled to die Wednesday for killing three people in remote northern Missouri in 1995.

But after the Supreme Court denied Middleton’s earlier requests for a stay, his attorneys filed another petition. This one is an emergency application seeking a one-hour reprieve.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has denied a clemency request.

The execution originally scheduled for 12:01 a.m. has been delayed all day by legal wrangling.

Missouri law allows a 24-hour window for executions. That means if Middleton has not been executed by midnight Thursday, the Missouri Supreme Court would need to set a new execution date.