Friday, August 01, 2003

OKLAHOMA LAST MEAL
HAROLD LOYD MCELMURRY
July 29, 2003


...chicken livers?...

Last Meal: For his last meal, McElmurry requested Canadian bacon pizza, a pint of chicken livers, cottage cheese and one raw white onion.

The Skinny: McElmurry was executed for fatally stabbing and bludgeoning an elderly couple in 1999.

McElmurry told police he stabbed the couple with scissors, then beat them with a hoe.

McElmurry's wife also was convicted in the deaths of the 80-year-old paraplegic and his 75-year-old wife at their rural home. She is serving two life sentences.

The McElmurrys were caught in Texas near the Mexican border in the victim's car. They also had stolen two pistols and $70.

Escape! McElmurry slithered between the jail bars and escaped before he was scheduled to go on trial in 2000 for the fatally stabbing. He was captured the next day.

No Legal Machinations: McElmurry didn't file an appeal after the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals upheld his conviction and death sentence last year. He waived an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Last words and such: McElmurry asked for forgiveness just before he was executed and received it from the grandson of the couple he murdered.

"I'd like to say I'm sorry to the Pendleys. I hope they can forgive me."

The victim's grandson said he was willing to grant McElmurry's request for forgiveness.

"I think he was sincere," said the grandson, who witnessed the execution.

Factoids: McElmurry was the...

50th murderer executed in U.S. in 2003
870th murderer executed in U.S. since 1976
14th murderer executed in Oklahoma in 2003
69th murderer executed in Oklahoma since 1976


The fifth person put to death this month in Oklahoma.