BOISE - Idaho prison officials executed Paul Ezra Rhoades on Friday for his role in the 1987 murders of two women, marking the state's first execution in 17 years.

Rhoades, 54, was declared dead at 9:15 a.m. at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution after being administered three separate drugs that make up the state's new lethal injection protocol.

In his final words, Rhoades apologized for one of the murders, bid goodbye to his mother, and forgave state officials for the execution.

"I forgive you. I really do," he said.

Rhoades was convicted in the kidnapping and murders of Susan Michelbacher, 34, and Stacy Dawn Baldwin, 21. He was also sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Nolan Haddon, 20.

The execution was witnessed by representatives of all three of the victims' families, Rhoades' mother, Pauline Rhoades, and four members of Idaho media. It appeared to go according to protocol, witnesses said.

Rhoades delivered his final statement while lying on his back, strapped to a table. He seemed antsy, occasionally tapping his hand on the table.

In a clear, loud voice, Rhoades apologized to Michelbacher's husband for her murder but did not take responsibility for the other two slayings.

"To Bert Michelbacher, I'm sorry for the part I played in your wife's death," he said. Michelbacher did not attend the execution; but friends of the family were in attendance.

"For Haddon and for Baldwin, you still have to keep looking. I can't help you," Rhoades said. "I'm sorry for your family. I can't help you."

After that statement, Baldwin's brother quietly said, "He lied the whole way through."

Julie Haddon, Nolan Haddon's mother, commented, "What a coward."

The time from initial injection to declaration of death was 22 minutes.

Brian Edgerton, a long-time family friend of the Michelbachers, told the AP after the execution that he felt a sense of relief, as well as continued grief over Susan Michelbacher's murder. He helped search for Michelbacher after she was reported missing, and said that everyone who knew her was devastated.

"It's amazing how much is still there after all this time," Edgerton said. "A psychologist said there's always going to be a gnawing pain - it never completely heals. This helps a lot to move on and do the best we can to go forward."

The other victims' family members seemed to feel the same way, he said.

"I think that was felt by several of the families - a sense of peace and closure," Edgerton said.

Rhoades' attacks on Michelbacher, Baldwin and Haddon were brutal and his death was long overdue, Edgerton said, calling the execution "the appropriate, compelling and lawful consequence of these heinous crimes."