Infamous Last Words From Criminals On Death Row

By Kirsty 1 year ago

George Appel: "Well, Gentleman, You Are About To See A Baked Apple."

Image Source: Daily StarExecuted in New York in 1928, George Appel was convicted of first degree murder after he killed a police officer. During the time of his execution via electric chair, he decided that the situation was rather funny to him - delivering these final words, which spread like wildfire through the public.

James French: "How About This For A Headline For Tomorrow's Paper? French Fries."

Image Source: The Mirror
Executed in Oklahoma in 1966, James French was sentenced to death after murdering a driver who had picked him on the road as a hitchhiker. French was originally serving a life sentence for his crime, but became suicidal. Too scared to take his own life, he made the state do it for him by killing an inmate so that execution by the electric chair would be the result.

Thomas J. Grasso: "I Did Not Get My Spaghetti-O's, I Got Spaghetti. I Want The Press To Know This."

Image Source: Scooper
Executed in Oklahoma in 1995, Thomas Grasso had received the death penalty after he murdered an elderly woman by strangling her with Christmas lights. 6 months later, he murdered an elderly man. His final words before being executed related to his final meal request - he was disappointed that he didn't get his Spaghetti-O's.

Jimmy Glass: "I'd Rather Be Fishing."

Image Source: Police1
Executed in Louisiana in 1987, Jimmy Glass was already in prison alongside fellow inmate Jimmy Wingo. The pair had escaped jail in 1982 at Christmas, and then proceeded to rob an elderly couple's home before shooting them to death. They both ended up being executed by electric chair.

Robert Charles Towery: "I Love My Family. Potato, Potato, Potato."

Image Source: Clark County Prosecuting Attorney
Executed in Arizona in 2012, Robert Charles Towery had injected battery acid into his victim before strangling him during a robbery. Towery was executed via lethal injection, but not before he said these final words. It may sound gibberish, but the 'potato' was actually a message to his nephew. It was his way of saying everything was okay.

Ted Bundy: "I'd Like To Give My Love To My Family And Friends."

Image Source: Psychology Today
Executed in Florida in 1989, notorious criminal Ted Bundy was responsible for the brutal kidnapping, rape and murder of at least 36 women. This is the amount that he admitted to, but experts believed he murdered far more than that. He was executed via electric chair - and the world rejoiced.

John Wayne Gacy: "Kiss My A**."

Image Source: Wikipedia
Executed in Illinois in 1994, John Wayne Gacy was otherwise known as the 'killer clown'. He was responsible for the rape and murder of at least 33 men. His clown moniker came from the fact that he would often dress up as one for events. He died from lethal injection.

Aileen Wuornos: "I'd Just Like To Say I'm Sailing With The Rock And I'll Be Back Like 'Independence Day' With Jesus, June 6, Like The Movie, Big Mother Ship And All. I'll Be Back."

Image Source: Wikipedia
Executed in Florida in 2002, Aileen was a prostitute who murdered 7 men during her killing spree. She claimed that she killed the men in self-defence, and the movie Monster was based on her life. She died through lethal injection after being sentenced to death, despite her claim of self-defence.

Jeffrey David Matthews: "I Think That Governor's Phone Is Broke. He Hadn't Called Yet."

Image Source: CBS News
Executed in Oklahoma in 2011, Jeffrey David Matthews was imprisoned for the murder of his great uncle. He robbed his home and then shot him in the back of the head, as well as slitting his wife's throat (but she thankfully managed to survive). He claimed he was innocent and had his execution postponed three times before being put to death.

Barbara Graham: "Good People Are Always So Sure They're Right."

Image Source: Wikipedia
Executed in California in 1955, Barbara Graham had decided to rob the home of an elderly widow. Barbara and her accomplice bartered their way into the woman's home, before Graham killed her by bludgeoning her to death with a pistol. Graham was executed via gas chamber.

James Lewis Jackson: "Warden, Murder Me. I'm Ready To Roll. Time To Get This Party Started."

Image Source: Chron
Executed in Texas in 2007, James Lewis Jackson was convicted after strangling his wife and his two step daughters. His wife had previously been threatening divorce and he was using drugs. His last words also referred to the place where he was convicted as two biblical cities God destroyed for their sins.

George Engel: "Hurrah For Anarchy! This Is The Happiest Moment Of My Life."

Image Source: Wikipedia
Executed in Illinois in 1887, George Engel joined the International Working People's Association as a German immigrant tired by politics. During a rally between anarchists and labor activists, a bomb was thrown at police. Engel had been home at the time, but was convicted for murder and hanged anyway.

Johnny Frank Garrett: "I'd Like To Thank My Family For Loving Me And Taking Care Of Me. And The Rest Of The World Can Kiss My A**."

Image Source: The Daily Gazette
Executed in Texas in 1992, Garrett was charged with the rape and murder of a nun. However, his execution was controversial because he was considered mentally handicapped after being analysed by an expert. There was also speculation that he was, in fact, innocent, but he went on to be executed.

Robert Alton Harris: "You Can Be A King Or A Street Sweeper, But Everyone Dances With The Grim Reaper."

Image Source: Collections - GetArchive
Executed in California in 1992, Harris and his brother were responsible for kidnapping two boys from a restaurant and then shooting them. They went on to then rob a bank. Robert was then sentenced to execution via the gas chamber, while his brother was only sentenced to six years in prison.

Michael Lee Wilson: "I Can Feel My Whole Body Burning."

Image Source: Fox News
Executed in Oklahoma in 2014, Michael Lee Wilson was killed via lethal injection after he was convicted for the murder of his co-worker Richard Yost, who had been 30 years old. He was the third person to be executed for this type of crime, but the fourth person is serving a life sentence instead of execution.

Patrick Bryan Knight: "Not All Of Us Are Innocent, But Those Are. I Said I Was Going To Tell A Joke. Death Has Set Me Free. That's The Biggest Joke. I Deserve This. And The Other Joke Is That I Am Not Patrick Bryan Knight And Y'all Can't Stop This Execution Now. Go Ahead, I'm Finished."

Image Source: Chron
Executed in Texas in 2007, Knight was responsible for abducting a couple and locking them in their basement. He and his accomplice then drove them to a secluded area and shot them. His intention was to tell a great joke during his execution but he ended up using a very poor one, whilst naming other inmates he believed were innocent.

Bennie Demps: "They Butchered Me Back There, I Was In A Lot Of Pain. They Cut Me In The Groin, They Cut Me In The Leg. I Was Bleeding Profusely. This Is Not An Execution, It Is Murder."

Image Source: Murderpedia
Executed in Florida in 2000, Demps was already in prison for murdering two people when he decided to fatally stab an inmate, too. Demps was part of a prison gang that apparently hunted down 'snitch' inmates. Demps could have apparently escaped the death penalty if he hadn't have murdered the inmate during a time when the death penalty had just been reinstated. He died via lethal injection.

Peter Kürten: "Tell Me, After My Head Is Chopped Off, Will I Still Be Able To Hear, At Least For A Moment, The Sound Of My Own Blood Gushing From The Stump Of My Neck? That Would Be The Pleasure To End All Pleasures."

Image Source: Listverse
Executed in Germany in 1931, Peter was a serial killer dubbed '
The Vampire of Düsseldorf' 
due to his attempts to drink the blood of his victims after murdering them. He was responsible for 9 murders, 31 murder attempts and sexually assaulting a 9 year old girl before killing her. He was executed by guillotine.

Thomas Edward Ketchum: "I'll Be In Hell Before You Start Breakfast, Boy. Let Her Rip."

Image Source: Roswell Daily Record
Executed in New Mexico in 1901, Ketchum was an American outlaw responsible for several murders and disappearances as part of the Hole-In-The-Wall gang. He was sentenced to execution, not for his murders, but for a failed train robbery. He was supposed to be hanged, but the rope used was too long, resulting in his decapitation.

James Edward Smith: It Was Reported That He Warned Guards His Ghost Would Haunt Them

Image Source: WhatCulture
Executed in Alabama in 1990, James Edward Smith's exact last words were never recorded, but it was reported by guards that his final proclamation stated that his ghost would haunt the prison for 300 years. He had been convicted of the murder of Larry Don Rohus during a robbery. He also claimed he had participated in ritualistic murders.

Charles Panzram: "Yes, Hurry It Up, You Hoosier B***ard! I Could Kill A Dozen Men While You're S***wnig Around!"

Image Source: The Famous People
Executed in 1930, Panzram was responsible for the murder of a prison employee, as well as committing a series of murders before this - and escaping from prison more than once. He confessed to murdering 21 people and to committing thousands of other crimes, including robbery and arson.

Torrey Twane McNabb: "Mom, Sis, Look At My Eyes, I've Got No Tears In My Eyes. I'm Unafraid... To The State Of Alabama, I Hate You Motherf***ers. I Hate You."

Image Source: Reddit
Executed in 2017 in Alabama, McNabb was convicted of murdering a police officer, as well as two other murder attempts. He spent 20 years on death row before executed by lethal injection. He refused a final meal and gave two fingers on the death gurney while uttering these final words.

George Bernard Harris: "Somebody Needs To Kill My Trial Attorney."

Image Source: People
Executed in 2000, Harris was killed via lethal injection after being sentenced for murdering Stanley Willoughby. He'd bought two machine guns and asked his friend to store them. His friend, along with Willoughby, had hid the guns from Harris, causing a fight to break out and Harris shooting Willoughby in the face.

Christopher Young: "I Can Taste It In My Throat."

Image Source: UPI
Executed in 2018, Christopher Young had been sent to prison for killing a store owner when he was drunk and high. Young expressed regret over his actions, and even the store owner's family fought against him being given the death penalty. But Young was sentenced to death by lethal injection.

Michael Brandon Samra: "I Would Like To Thank Jesus For Everything He Has Done For Me. Amen."

Image Source: Daily Mail
Executed in 2019 via lethal injection, Samra had been convicted of murder after he and his friend, Mark Duke, had murdered Duke's father along with his father's girlfriend and her two daughters. The father and his girlfriend had been shot, while the two daughters had had their throats cut. Duke had his own sentence overturned because he was 16 at the time.

Don Johnson: "No More Dying Here."

Image Source: Fox News
Executed in 2019 via lethal injection, 68-year-old Don Johnson had been responsible for suffocating his own wife. Upon witnessing Johnson's execution via the injection, his lawyer had reported that he'd emitted gurgling and gasping, leading her to believe he could feel the intense pain of the drugs working.

Billie Wayne Coble: "That'll Be Five Dollars, Take Care."

Image Source: BBC
Executed in 2019, Billie Wayne Coble was responsible for the murder of his estranged wife. He also murdered his wife's parents and brother. Coble's son, friend and daughter-in-law attended his execution, and became violent towards others in the witness area. The two men were arrested.

David Earl Miller: "Beats Being On Death Row."

Image Source: ABC
Executed in 2018 via electric chair, David Earl Miller was responsible for the murder of a young woman. Miller had dated Lee Standifer, a woman born with mild brain damage, 40 years before murdering her, which he did using a fire poker to bludgeon and stab her. He claimed he was drunk and high at the time.

Edmund Zagorski: "Let's Rock."

Image Source: ABA Journal
Executed in 2018 via electric chair, Edmund Zagorski was responsible for the murder of two men during a drug deal. He robbed them, shot them and then slit their throats. He was originally supposed to be executed via lethal injection, but Zagorski managed to get the courts to halt the execution and switch to electric chair as he wanted to avoid the 'torture' of injection.

Rodney Berget: "Is It Supposed To Feel Like That?"

Image Source: Argus Leader
Executed in 2018 by lethal injection, Rodney Berget had already been in prison when he murdered a corrections officer during an escape attempt in 2011. Berget was already serving a life sentence for attempted murder and kidnapping when he murdered officer Ronald Johnson.

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