Wednesday, March 04, 2009

BULLET...TEXAS LAST MEAL--KENNETH MORRIS, March 4, 2009

TEXAS LAST MEAL
KENNETH MORRIS
March 4, 2009


Morris had a final meal request of fried chicken, fried okra, white cake with lemon icing and lemonade.

Complete skinny forthcoming....

FLORIDA LAST MEAL--WAYNE TOMPKINS, February 11, 2009

FLORIDA LAST MEAL
WAYNE TOMPKINS
February 11, 2009


...he used only the single spoon the state allows....

Last Meal: Tompkins had a final meal request of fried chicken, banana split ice cream and some water. He used only the single spoon the state allows.

The skinny: Tompkins was executed for killing his girlfriend's 15-year-old daughter.

More skinny: In 1983, Tompkins lived with a woman and her 15-year old daughter. Tompkins was assisting his girlfriend's mother in packing to move and went home several times during the day to obtain newspapers to use in the packing. The defendant returned later in the day, after going home, and reported that the victim had run away, and he doubted she would ever return.

In 1984, her decomposed body was found buried underneath the residence. She had been strangled. Also recovered from the grave were a pink bathrobe, a diamond ring and a pair of gold-cross earrings.

Two years later, Tompkins was behind bars on unrelated rape charges and told a jailhouse informant he strangled the girl with her bathrobe sash when she fought off his sexual advances. A friend of the victim came forward and stated that she went to the residence on the day of her disappearance and observed Tompkins on top of the victim, who was struggling and screaming for help.

The day of...Tompkins spent three hours with his mother. For two of those hours, they were not allowed physical contact. She was not allowed to witness the execution.

Tompkins, who described his religion as Native American, also met with the prison chaplain since he had no preferred spiritual adviser.

About 4 p.m., the staff gave him a shot of diazepam to calm his nerves.

Last words and such: Among the 25 witnesses to the execution was the girl's mother, along with other relatives of the victim, law enforcement personnel and news reporters.

When asked whether he had a final statement, Tompkins said, "I am good."

At 6:26 p.m., Tompkins' breathing calmed. The mouth movements stopped. His eyes closed.

Factoids: Tompkins was the...

11th murderer executed in U.S. in 2009
1147th murderer executed in U.S. since 1976
1st murderer executed in Florida in 2009
67th murderer executed in Florida since 1976


Outside the prison, in a roped-off area near where a white hearse was parked, about 40 death penalty opponents gathered to protest the execution.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

BULLET...TEXAS LAST MEAL--WILLIE PONDEXTER, March 3, 2009

TEXAS LAST MEAL
WILLIE PONDEXTER
March 3, 2009


Pondexter had a final meal request of two fried chicken legs, two fried chicken thighs, macaroni and cheese, biscuits, peach cobbler and lemonade.

Complete skinny forthcoming....

TEXAS LAST MEAL--DALE DEVON SCHEANETTE--02/10/09...

TEXAS LAST MEAL
DALE DEVON SCHEANETTE
February 10, 2009


...He was known as the "Bathtub Killer."...

Last Meal: Scheanette had a final meal request of two spicy fried chicken leg quarters, french fries and ketchup and two spicy fried pork chops...

The skinny: Scheanette, 35, was executed for the killing of an Arlington woman. He was charged with, but not tried for, the slaying of a second woman and was blamed for the rapes of at least five other women.

He was known as the "Bathtub Killer."

More skinny: Scheanette's signature murders occurred at the same apartment complex in Arlington in 1996 with his victims found in half-filled bathtubs, strangled, raped and bound with duct tape.

Justice delayed: The slayings went unsolved for more than three years because detectives couldn't match a fingerprint at the murder scenes to anyone. Finally, in 1999, Scheanette was arrested for a burglary outside Dallas and his prints entered into a criminal database were tied to the killings. It was his first arrest, so it was the first time he was fingerprinted and entered into the FBI database. DNA then strengthened the confirmations and also pointed to his involvement in the other rapes.

After jurors convicted him of capital murder, prosecutors in the punishment phase of the trial called to the witness stand five women who testified how they were beaten, threatened and raped by Scheanette.

Appeals: Scheanette acted as his own lawyer in late appeals. His sister, acting on his behalf, filed a three-page handwritten motion Tuesday seeking a reprieve from the U.S. Supreme Court. It was turned down less than an hour before he was taken to the death chamber.

Last words and such:Scheanette speaking from the death chamber gurney said that "no cases ever tried have been error free." He repeated the comment. "No cases are error free," he said, then told the warden standing next to him to proceed.

Nine minutes later, Scheanette was pronounced dead.

Factoids: Scheanette was the...

10th murderer executed in U.S. in 2009
1146th murderer executed in U.S. since 1976
7th murderer executed in Texas in 2009
430th murderer executed in Texas since 1976