Department of Corrections Director Robert Patton, the head of Oklahoma's prison system who presided over two botched lethal injection executions, has resigned.
"I appreciate the members of the board of corrections for their continued support during my time as director," Patton said in a statement, according to NBC News.
"It's to go spend more time with his five grandchildren in Arizona," said department spokeswoman Terri Watkins, who did not have any information about his new position, reported Mining Gazette.
Patton is the second high-ranking official to step down after Oklahoma State Penitentiary Warden Anita Trammell, who resigned in October to avail accrued leave, until her date of retirement on March 1.
Patton announced Friday that he would resign effective Jan. 31 but will begin availing accrued leave on Dec. 25, according to Business Insider.
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin publicly declined to endorse Patton on Oct. 8 even after he was given a vote of confidence by the Board of Corrections. Fallin said at the time that she reserved her support until Attorney General Scott Pruitt completed his investigation, reported Townhall.
Patton had been on the job for a few months during the execution of Clayton Lockett, which lasted 43 minutes. Trammell had been inside the state's execution chamber during the procedure.
An autopsy of Charles Warner, who had been executed in January, revealed that he had been injected with potassium acetate instead of potassium chloride. The drug potassium acetate had been injected into Lockett, leading to a prolonged death.
The same, wrong drug had been delivered to the prison for the execution of Richard Glossip. Glossip's execution was halted.
Both Patton and Trammell have appeared before a multi-county grand jury that is investigating the botched executions.
