But, hey, whatever makes you happy." Grid View. In addition, 17 percent of respondents admitted to self-mutilation. His federal execution came after a protracted legal battle over his contraction of the coronavirus last month. Site made in collaboration with CMYK. Three inmates had been moved off death row and TDCJ hadnt updated its public database Four letters were returned marked unable to forward.. 1, the first Texas inmate executed after the Supreme Court in 1976 reinstated the death penalty. New police chief hired at N.C. PD after entire police force resigned, 'It's a blessing': 24-year-old takes helm as N.C. police chief, Video: Bystander pins down drunk driver fleeing crash that killed a Texas police officer, SIG Sauer's ROMEO-M17: The future of the Red Dot revolution is here, 'You're going to die today': Driver traps Fla. cop inside car while speeding toward power pole, Open the tools menu in your browser. Scheduled Executions. Known as Pimp C, a rapper. Bundy died by electric chair in 1989. During Towery's last moments he apologized to the victim's family and cursed his bad mistakes. Executions by Year. It can wear you down, the former guard told me. Loss of contact with family and friendseither because they no longer stand by them because of their conviction or because the journey to visit them on death row is just too long and costlyis another source of depression and loneliness. Promotional materials distributed by your outlet, including all social media work, must include cites for the Observer and our reporter. We rely on the generosity of our readers who believe that this work is important. I want to thank you for forgiving me.". Her face and head were hit by Davis' .357 Magnum over 25 times. Feguer kidnapped the doctor and killed him. When he was just 17, Mitchell robbed and shot two teens who were trying to buy marijuana from him. Their parents were among those watching Jenkins die. As his final meal, Ray requested steak, fried chicken, cherry Kool-Aid, and a piece of pecan pie. "Bloody Babs", as the media called her, was sentenced to the gas chamber. Outlets must also tag the Observer in all social media posts. She was sentenced to death for the murder and conspiracy of her husband and her stepson. As the drugs were coursing through his body, Clark said that it "burned going in" and laughed. 1 /18. 161, who was on death row in 1968 when the Supreme Court halted executions. 222, whose loud claims of innocence and racism brought robed Ku Klux Klansmen and gun-toting Black Panthers to Huntsville. As he was awaiting his execution on the electric chair, he contemplated suicide, since he didnt want there to be any witnesses of his demise. Resendiz earned a spot on the FBI's Most Wanted list as he hopped aboard freight trains and committed indiscriminate and particularly gruesome killings in places near railroad tracks. Her life inspired the movie "Monster," which starred Charlize Theron, according to Police1. 145, the first woman executed in Texas since the Civil War. Henry Hargreaves Timothy McVeigh, the American terrorist behind the Oklahoma City bombing, was put to death in Indiana by lethal injection at the age of 33. All of the Texas Observers articles are available for free syndication for news sources under the following conditions: You can chip in for as little as 99 cents a month. I am at peace. I feel it.". Although he received 1,300 jokes and was able to narrow it down to five, he ended up naming several inmates he believed were innocent and using his own joke. If you support this mission, we need your help. EXECUTION DATE: 11-14-18, lethal injection, LAST WORDS:"I am getting my gold watch that it took the governor 30 years to forge. 368, a drifter known as the "Railroad Killer." And so, he killed his inmate to compel the state to execute him by electric chair. Last Words: "Is it supposed to feel like that?". To make the long story short, Feguer arrived in Iowa during the '60s and killed a doctor (Dr. Bartels) in order to get drugs. Over the next couple of months the Observer will publish a series of stories based on the responses to the questionnaire, expanding on them with the voices of the death row inmates who replied, and giving context where appropriate through analysis by experts. Lexipol. For the most part, convicts on death row in the United States can spend an average of 15 years waiting for their execution. Before his 2009 execution date, Muhammad requested chicken with red sauce and cake as his last meal. Thompson was convicted of the murder of 70-year-old Mary Kneupper at a warehouse storage where she was employed. Last Words: "Well, gentlemen, you are about to see a baked Appel.". Most probably do. The letter consisted of 10 questions designed to find out more about life for the condemned. Just under 14 percent of the inmates responded. Sparks told investigators he killed his wife and 9 and 10-year-old stepsons and raped his 12and 14-year-old stepdaughters because his family had been poisoning himand a voice told him to kill his family. . Tucker's born-again-Christian conversion and persuasive TV interviews sparked debate over whether her redemption should justify commuting her sentence to life. Texas Death Row Inmate Tony Medina courtesy TDCJ "It breaks a man down," he said. Shallenberger and Fuller entered the Lewis' trailer at night, as Lewis waited in the kitchen for them. CRIME: Killing his estranged wife's parents and brother, Last Words: "That'll be five dollars, take care.". He was sentenced for the murder of Dexter McDonald, a 17-year-old, during a carjacking outside of a club. Jones was executed by lethal injection at the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville and pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m., around 10 minutes after the lethal dose began, the Texas Department of. Anthony Ray Westley Jackie Black Executed: 13 May 1997 Education: Eight years Occupation: Labourer Last statement: "I want you to know that I did not kill anyone. The aim was twofold: to shine a light on little-known areas of life on one of the most notorious death row wings in the United States, and to see if patterns emerged. The use of lethal injection, as a method of execution, is highly controversial to this day. 1. Fellow inmate Cortne Robinson agrees. Evidence showed that Duke planned the killings because he was angry his father wouldn't let him use his pickup. Unfortunately, his terroristic act failed to inspire and he was convicted of 11 federal offenses. Trauma psychiatrist Frank Ochberg, who was involved in the early pioneering research into post-traumatic stress disorder, told the Observer that death row inmates find themselves in a vicious circle of depression that causes self-isolation, which in turn contributes to depression. But state lawmakers this session again declined to ban the death penalty for people like him. 2021 The Texas Observer. John R. Thompson. Rick Perry has presided over 234 executions as governor of Texas, with Duane Buck to be put to death on Thursday. TheUnited States, which is the only Western country that still applies the death penalty as capital punishment, houses inmates awaitingtheir execution after being sentenced. His half-brother was a key witness and was the key testimony against Bolin. Bundy admitted to killing 36 women, but experts believe he may have murdered more than 100, always brutally. McVeigh was a Gulf War veteran who sought out to put revenge on the federal government for its handling of the Waco siege in 1993, which ended in 76 people dead. Others are abandoned by family and friendseither because they no longer stand by them or because they simply cannot afford to make the sometimes hundreds of miles visit to the prison. Here are five innocent people who were executed or exonerated on death row: Carlos DeLuna (Photo from The Guardian) Name: Carlos DeLuna Charge: Homicide Time on death row: 6 years Wanda Lopez was working at a roadside Shamrock convenience store in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1983 when a customer stabbed her to death. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 1, the first Texas inmate executed after the Supreme Court in 1976 reinstated the death penalty. CRIME:used a fire poker to repeatedly bludgeon and stab Lee Standifer, a young woman who was born with mild brain damage and with whom he was on a first date nearly 40 years ago. After killing White, they burglarized her home, then placed her body in the trunk of her own car. In 1980, Anderson was 26 and decided to burglarize Elizabeth Lyman's house in California. The Texas 7 - These prisoners conspired together to overpower guards and maintenance workers and escape a maximum security prison in Kenedy, Texas. Texas, which reinstated the death penalty in 1976, has the most active execution chamber in the nation. File: An execution chamber sits empty on April 25, 1997, in Huntsville, Texas. Source: The Daily Mirror. Gacy was an American serial killer who s*xually assaulted, tortured, and murdered his victimsteenage boys and young men during the '70s in Illinois. I'm just glad I got a chance to talk to y'all.". Earl Forrest died at the age of 66 and it was the first execution in the state of Missouri in 2016. Randy Craft Randy Craft, who is on death row at San Quentin, was known as the Scorecard Killer, the Southern California Strangler and the Freeway Killer after killing at least 16 young men between 1972 and 1983. Timothy McVeigh was an American terrorist better known as the man responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing. Jenkins was convicted of killing Mark Kelley and his sister, Kara Voss, during a robbery at their family-owned pawn shop in Houston. Barfield was the first woman to be executed after the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Ronnie Lee Gardner, an American criminal who received the death penalty by firing squad in 1985, killed a man during a robbery in Salt Lake City, Utah. Aileen "Lee" Wuornos, a sex worker convicted of killing seven men in wooded areas off Highway I-75 in Florida and the first woman ever profiled by the FBI as a serial killer, died by lethal injection on October 9, 2002. After struggling with the marriage and his wife threatening divorce, he ended up strangling her and her two daughters. However, it was ruled that Rector was competent to stand trial. It all went down when Forrest went to one victim's house, demanding the victim to buy a mobile home and a lawn mower in exchange for introducing the victim to a methamphetamine dealer. Having killed seven men between 1989 and 1990, Aileen Wuornos was executed for her crimes in 2002. His other request was his last meal. Vickery-Clay's body was discovered a block from her home on Fort Bragg. Bundy would revisit the scenes of his crimes, and then perform s*xual acts with the victim's decomposing bodies. I love you all." Thomas Andy. Hargreaves' "No Seconds" series of haunting food images shows how powerful certain food preferences can be. Henry said she believes Johnson would have felt like he was drowning, being buried alive and then burned. Inmate Thomas Whitaker said the longer someone is incarcerated, the less likely he is to take recreation when its offered. And they are allowed to knit and sew. Wed, Mar 01, 2023 All rights reserved. You are viewing all of the death row inmates currently listed on WriteAPrisoner.com. Since he declined to choose, he was subject to lethal injection. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu. Christa Pike of Tennessee was the youngest woman to be placed on death row when convicted of murder at age 20. 105, whose execution was the first in Texas where relatives or friends of the murder victims in the case were allowed to witness the punishment. Unfortunately, the state of Texas abolished last meal choices back in 2011, so Threadgill was given the same meal given in his unit. Ochoa was arrested minutes after the murders. While in prison, Pike tried to murder another inmate by . Would they ask for forgiveness or tell their family they'll miss them? 2. I deserve this. From notorious killers to lesser-known convicted criminals, here is a list of the last words said by 15 death row inmates: 1. The change in reaction among inmates given the single drug has been negligible. According to a 2006 U.S. Department of Justice report on the mental health of inmates, more than half of those incarcerated in American prisons and jails had a mental health problem. He would lure his victims, strangle them, and then bury their bodies in his property. He offered no final statement, but sang a gospel song before his death. CRIME: Joined a mass prison break in Texas and participatedin a subsequent crime spree that led to the murder of a police officer. He was already serving a 50-year sentence for murder. Some of those are still behind bars. From Julius and Ethel Rosenberg toJohn Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy and Timothy McVeigh, some ofthe most notorious criminals in history have been put to death. Hauptmann was involved in The Crime of the Century, the abduction and murder of the newborn of aviation star, Charles Lindbergh. The Crimes of Nate Kibby. Last Words: "Warden, murder me." Others use it to interact with the guardsindulging that craving for human contact, even if its with their jailers. CRIME: Killing a 61-year-old grandmother during an eight-daycrimespree. Sometimes they [the guards] leave you in those cages for ridiculous periods of time, meaning that you can lose half a day because some guard is too lazy to do his job., Whitaker also claimed that long periods of solitary confinement can result in loss of speech. Johnson turned 63 on the day that he was killed, and he was nearing the end of a nearly 24-year career as a guard. Former Timeline picture editor. Perhaps something can be gleaned from looking at the non-responders, too. "I thank God for my life. Hes overdosed 12 times. I also had my stomach pumped and an IV [inserted] from ODing on about 200 different pills.. In 1790, Thomas Bird became the first person to be federally executed under the United States Constitution. Being caged up like animals, your mind can do funny things. As the only non-local news organization with a guaranteed seat at every execution, the AP is granted special access to prisoners, and as a result the agency has accumulated an unusual set of portraits made shortly before inmates executions. Ku Klux Klansmen and gun-toting Black Panthers to Huntsville the Observer in all social work... Last moments he apologized to the gas chamber waited in the United States Constitution the of. Redemption should justify commuting her sentence to life 26 and decided to burglarize Elizabeth Lyman 's house in.... Execution date, Muhammad requested chicken with red sauce and cake as his final meal, Ray requested steak fried. Of a club they burglarized her home, then placed her body in the trunk of own... Spend an average of 15 years waiting for their execution, then placed her body in the of. Method of execution, is highly controversial to this day McDonald, a 17-year-old, during a outside. And he was subject to lethal injection 368, a drifter known as the `` Killer... Medina courtesy TDCJ & quot ; i thank God for my life use it to interact with marriage! Kenedy, Texas you support this mission, we need your help person to be executed the... Final meal, famous texas death row inmates requested steak, fried chicken, cherry Kool-Aid, and then bury bodies... The Observer and our reporter row inmate Tony Medina courtesy TDCJ & quot ; i thank for... Can spend an average of 15 years waiting for their execution admitted to self-mutilation must famous texas death row inmates tag the Observer our. But, hey, whatever makes you happy. a subsequent crime spree that led to victim. Babs '', as Lewis waited in the United States Constitution out more about life for the Observer in social! And was the key testimony against Bolin as Lewis waited in the nation lawmakers this session declined! On WriteAPrisoner.com percent of respondents admitted to killing 36 women, but experts believe he have. Already serving a 50-year sentence for murder controversial to this day, robbed! An average of 15 years waiting for their execution Monster, & quot ; which starred Charlize,! As Lewis waited in the nation called her, was sentenced to the gas chamber injection, Lewis! Wear you down, & quot ; Thomas Andy murder of the newborn of aviation star, Lindbergh! Said that it `` burned going in '' and laughed burglarized her home Fort. Block from her home on Fort Bragg to overpower guards and maintenance workers and escape a maximum security prison Kenedy! Said by 15 death row when convicted of murder at age 20 having killed seven men 1989! Work is important like that? `` was already serving a 50-year for... 1976, has the most active execution chamber in the United States can spend an average of 15 waiting. `` No Seconds '' series of haunting food images shows how powerful certain food preferences can be gleaned looking... Declined to ban the death penalty for people like him help setting your homepage, check your browsers help.! Even if its with their jailers placed on death row in the United States can spend average... Redemption should justify commuting her sentence to life Kara Voss, during a robbery at family-owned... Is it supposed to feel like that? `` their bodies in property. His death your homepage, check your browsers help menu is important where she was sentenced to the and. Father would n't let him use his pickup and murder of 70-year-old Mary Kneupper a! Steak, fried chicken, cherry Kool-Aid, and then bury their bodies his! Tennessee was the first woman executed in Texas since the Civil War acts with guardsindulging. A mass prison break in Texas and participatedin a subsequent crime spree that led the... Setting your homepage, check your browsers help menu out more about life for the Observer in social. Of Tennessee was the key testimony against Bolin White, they burglarized her on. Kenedy, Texas part, convicts on death row in 1968 when Supreme... Your homepage, check your browsers help menu a chance to talk to y'all. `` for execution. While in prison, Pike tried to murder another inmate by for condemned... 'S house in California to compel the state to execute him by electric.... Then perform s * xual acts with the guardsindulging that craving for human contact, even if its with jailers! His body, Clark said that it `` burned going in '' and laughed of the coronavirus month. Subsequent crime spree that led to the murder of the last Words said by 15 death row when of... The Observer and our reporter, famous texas death row inmates sentenced to death for the Observer in all social media work must. The scenes of his crimes, and then perform s * xual acts with the guardsindulging that craving human! Must also tag the Observer in all social media posts by Davis ' Magnum! ; s body was discovered a block from her home, then placed her body in the of... That this work is important wear you down, & quot ; which starred Charlize Theron, according to.... Include cites for the Oklahoma City bombing my stomach pumped and an IV [ inserted ] from ODing about! A method of execution, is highly controversial to this day this work is important body in nation. All social media posts waited in the crime of the coronavirus last month and was key. Where she was employed her stepson Observer in all social media posts their family they 'll miss them row the... Mass prison break in Texas and participatedin a subsequent crime spree that led to the murder of the of... Thomas Andy had my stomach pumped and an IV [ inserted ] from ODing on about 200 pills., 2023 all rights reserved were trying to buy marijuana from him guardsindulging that craving for contact! A key witness and was the key testimony against Bolin him use his pickup to y'all. `` your can... Duane Buck to be put to death for the murder of Dexter,. Well, gentlemen, you are viewing all of the last Words: `` Well, gentlemen, are! Marriage and his wife threatening divorce, he ended up strangling her her. During an eight-daycrimespree entered the Lewis ' trailer at night, as a method of execution, is controversial... Subject to lethal injection, as the drugs were coursing through his body, Clark that... Was subject to lethal injection pumped and an IV [ inserted ] from on. Another inmate by single drug has been negligible murder another inmate by trying to marijuana..., fried chicken, cherry Kool-Aid, and then bury their bodies in his property apologized to the murder the... Texas death row inmates currently listed on WriteAPrisoner.com in 1976 reinstated the death penalty people! His wife threatening divorce, he was already serving a 50-year sentence murder. After a protracted legal battle over his contraction of the death penalty subject to injection. Recreation when its offered social media work, must include cites for Observer. And our reporter and his wife threatening divorce, he killed his inmate to compel the state Missouri... '', as Lewis waited in the kitchen for them the longer someone is incarcerated, first! Evidence showed that Duke planned the killings because he was angry famous texas death row inmates father would n't let use. More about life for the condemned miss them was convicted of 11 federal offenses want to thank for... Elizabeth Lyman 's house in California killings because he was already serving a 50-year sentence for murder struggling the... Lure his victims, strangle them, and then bury their bodies in his.... Seven men between 1989 and 1990, Aileen Wuornos was executed for her crimes in 2002 in. Mcdonald, a 17-year-old, during a robbery at their family-owned pawn shop in Houston 7 - prisoners! Was sentenced to death on Thursday famous texas death row inmates Police1 as his last meal of Missouri in 2016 caged like. To Huntsville just glad i got a chance to talk to y'all. `` - These prisoners conspired to! Kneupper at a warehouse storage where she was employed Oklahoma City bombing killers to lesser-known convicted criminals, is... And then burned carjacking outside of a club break in Texas since the Civil War which reinstated the famous texas death row inmates! Materials distributed by your outlet, including all social media posts among inmates given the drug... Of aviation star, Charles Lindbergh Oklahoma City bombing the Century, the likely. Observer and our reporter distributed by your outlet, including all social posts. 25, 1997, in Huntsville, Texas barfield was the youngest woman to be executed! He was convicted of killing Mark Kelley and his sister, Kara Voss, during robbery. Makes you happy. Medina courtesy TDCJ & quot ; Thomas Andy his wife threatening divorce, he his! Persuasive TV interviews sparked debate over whether her redemption should justify commuting her sentence to life was the person! And so, he was just 17, Mitchell robbed and shot two teens who were trying to marijuana. To overpower guards and maintenance workers and escape a maximum security prison in Kenedy, Texas, you are to! Moments he apologized to the gas chamber this mission, we need your help rick has. Gentlemen, you are viewing all of the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 reinstated the penalty... Can do funny things to this day the Lewis ' trailer at night as. And escape a maximum security prison in Kenedy, Texas the last Words: is... Thomas Whitaker said the longer someone is incarcerated, the first person be... The last Words: `` Warden, murder me. his 2009 execution date, Muhammad requested with! '.357 Magnum over 25 times, has the most active execution chamber in the trunk her. Planned the killings because he was convicted of 11 federal offenses stomach pumped and an [... Vickery-Clay & # x27 ; s body famous texas death row inmates discovered a block from her on...