OHIO LAST MEAL
WILLIAM HENRY SMITH
March 8, 2005

...sharing a cherry cake recipe...

Last Meal: Smith requested Doritos and Pepsi but did not eat them, he did eat a ham, turkey and bologna sandwich with tomato and onions as his last meal. He did not eat breakfast or shower before the morning execution.

The skinny: Smith was executed for stabbing and then raping the dying, bleeding woman he had met in a bar.

More skinny: Smith met the woman at the Race Inn in Cincinnati. After several hours of socializing and drinking, they went to the victim's residence with her, where they engaged in sexual intercourse after drinking and allegedly using cocaine that belonged to him. Smith eventually left the apartment, but returned when he discovered that some of his cocaine was missing. Upon returning, he confronted the victim, but she denied taking any of the cocaine.

He then proceeded to stab the victim approximately 10 times in the neck, right breast, and right chest. While the victim was laying on the bed bleeding to death, Smith proceeded to have intercourse with her again. He then stole 2 televisions and a stereo system belonging to the victim. Upon arrest, Smith initially denied any involvement in the offense, but later admitted to stabbing the victim in the neck and having sex with her after stabbing her 8 more times.

Legal machinations: The Ohio Parole Board unanimously upheld his sentence, but a federal district judge in Cincinnati had stayed his execution on grounds that the state did not thoroughly investigate his claim that his behavior was affected by brain damage. An appellate court overturned the stay earlier in the week, saying a scan failed to confirm such damage.

Last words and such: Smith listened to a tape of R&B artist Sade and read the Bible and The Ruins of Ambrai, a fantasy novel, in his last 24 hours.

Smith got about three hours' sleep Monday night.

He was upbeat before the execution, visiting family, chatting about Cincinnati sports with the execution team and sharing a cherry cake recipe with them.

In a final statement that lasted four minutes, Smith took responsibility for the crime and said he had given himself to the Lord. "I hope you have the capacity to forgive," he said, addressing the victim's grandson, who watched with his hands clutched in front of his face. "I cannot control anything from this day. Find the right way. Be a better person than I was," Smith said.

Factoids: Smith was the....

7th murderer executed in U.S. in 2005
951st murderer executed in U.S. since 1976
1st murderer executed in Ohio in 2005
16th murderer executed in Ohio since 1976

GEORGIA LAST MEAL
STEPHEN MOBLEY
March 1, 2005

...today's theme: domino's...

Last Meal: Mobley ate most of his requested meal: a steak, fries, a pint of butter pecan ice cream, a pint of chocolate chip ice cream and two soft drinks.

The skinny: Mobley was sentenced to death for the 1991 shooting death of a 24-year-old college student working as a night manger at a Domino's Pizza. Mobley shot the victim in the back of his head during an armed robbery. He then robbed at gunpoint six more restaurants and dry cleaners during a three-week period.

Prior to the murder, Mobley had been convicted of at least seven other crimes, including credit card theft and burglary, that were committed between 1983 and 1986, prison records show.

More skinny: Upon arrest, Mobley made statements to the police confessing to the murder and the robbery of the pizza store. Following his incarceration, Mobley bragged about the murder and placed a Domino’s pizza box in his cell on the wall, and carried a domino piece in his pocket.

Legal notes: Unlike most inmates on death row who are indigent, Mobley's family was able to hire private attorneys to fight his execution. Mobley was represented by a former state Attorney General and a former DeKalb County District Attorney.

Last words and such: About a half hour before the execution, six guards led Mobley into the chamber and strapped him down. He was animated, smiling and laughing and talking with the warden. He chatted also as two nurses inserted the needles into his arm, and followed the procedure very closely. One of two friends who were among the witnesses waved to Mobley, and he smiled. He mouthed the words "thank you."

Mobley issued a lengthy final statement just before he was executed. "I would be remiss not to also acknowledge and make amends to my family and my friends. They know who they are. There are those that say I am a bigger person than I used to be, and I appreciate that. The opportunity I have been given, I atone for what sins I committed." He was asked if he wanted a last prayer. "Absolutely," he said. After the prayer, the fatal chemicals were injected and Mobley died.

Factoids: The victim's mother, had asked the state parole board to spare Mobley's life. She said through her son-in-law that no measure of satisfaction or closure would come to the family as a result of Mobley's execution.

Mobley's alleged lack of remorse and behavior in jail while awaiting trial for Collins' killing may have played a role in his execution, his lawyers said. Testimony during his trial indicated that Mobley had "Domino" tattooed on his back, hung a Domino's Pizza box in his cell and twice forcibly sodomized his cellmate.

His lawyer claims he has personally confirmed that Mobley has no tattoo that reads "Domino." The Department of Corrections confirmed that such a tattoo does not appear on Mobley's body.

Mobley was the....

6th murderer executed in U.S. in 2005
950th murderer executed in U.S. since 1976
2nd murderer executed in Georgia in 2005
38th murderer executed in Georgia since 1976

The final meal request for William Henry Powell, North Carolina, March 11, 2005

Powell requested a medium, thin-crust pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms and Canadian bacon, and a hamburger with mustard, chili and onions and a 20-ounce Pepsi.

Complete skinny to follow...

The final meal request for Donald Ray Wallace, Jr., Indiana, March 10, 2005

Wallace requested steak, baked potato, french fries, cheese sticks, a fried onion, and a piece of chocolate cake from a local Damon's Grill.

Complete skinny to follow...

The final meal request for George Anderson Hopper, Texas, March 8, 2005

Hopper requested six eggs over easy, ten biscuits, twelve pieces of bacon, a bowl of grits, a bowl of thick milk white gravy, strawberry perserves, fried chicken, french fries and chocolate meringue pie.

Complete skinny to follow...

The final meal request for William Henry Smith, Ohio, March 8, 2005

Smith requested nacho cheese Doritos chips and a Pepsi for his "special meal." He did not eat it. He did eat a ham, turkey and bologna sandwich Monday night. He did not eat breakfast or have a shower before Tuesday execution.

Complete skinny to follow...

The final meal request for Stephen Anthony Mobley, Georgia, March 1, 2005

Mobley requested steak, french fries, 1-quart butter-pecan ice cream, 1-quart chocolate-chip ice cream, and 2 soft drinks.

Complete skinny to follow...