LAST WORDS FROM DEATH ROW

Article BY LORI BELL - Art by Chuck Hodi

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“I don’t care if I live or die. Go ahead and kill me. “ - Jeffrey Dahmer, the “Milwaukee Cannibal, “ who raped and killed 17 young men and boys in the 1980s. He was beaten to death by a fellow inmate on November 28, 1994.

“Hurrah for anarchy! This is the happiest moment of my life.” - George Engel one of the four responsible for the 1886 Haymarket Bombing in Chicago. He was hanged on November 11, 1887.

“Tell me. After my head has been 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 a pleasure to end all pleasures.” - Peter Kurten, “The Vampire of Duesseldorf. “ He raped and killed, (and once drank the blood) of almost 60 people. He was executed by guillotine on July 2, 1931.

“ Hurry it up , you Hoosier bastard! I could hang a dozen men while you’re screwing around!” - Carl Panzram, who was an infamous serial killer, arsonist, and rapist. He was hanged on September 5, 1930.

“Okay Warden, let’s do it. I love y’all. I can taste it already. I am starting to go” - John Avalon Alba, who fatally shot his wife while out on bail for a molestation charge. He was executed by lethal injection on May 25, 2010.

“I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.” - Timothy Mcveigh, who killed 168 people in 195 during the Oklahoma City bombing. He was executed by lethal injection on June 11, 2001.

“Turn up the radio and I’ll go quietly. “- Peter Manual, “The Beast of Birkenshaw ,” who murdered and raped at least 7 people. He was hanged on July 11, 1958.

“Freedom, freedom at last. It’s been a good one!” - John W. Rook, who kidnapped, and raped a hospital nurse before running her body over with his car. He was executed by lethal injection on September 20, 1986.

“I’d like you to give my love to my family and friends. “- Ted Bundy, the famous serial killer who raped and murdered an unknown number of women during the 1970s. He was executed by the electric chair on January 4, 1989.

“I’d rather be fishing” - Jimmy Glass, who escaped prison and killed Newton and Erlene Brown. He was executed by the electric chair on June 12, 1987.

“I’d just like to say I’m sailing with the rock, and I’ll be back Independence Day with Jesus, June 6th. Like the movie, big mothership and all. I’ll be back.” - Aileen Wuornos, who killed 7 men between the years of 1989 and 1990. She was executed by lethal injection on October 9, 2002.

“Let’s do it!” - Gary Gilmore, murderer. He was executed by firing squad on January 17, 1977. These last words were the inspiration for the Nike logo.

“How’s this for a headline? ‘French Fries.’” - James French, murderer. He was executed by electric chair on August 10,1966.

“An innocent man is going to be murdered tonight. When my innocence is proven, I hope Americans will realize the injustice of the death penalty all other civilized countries have.” - Roger Keith Coleman, who was convicted for murdering his sister-in-law. He was executed by electric chair on May 20, 1992.

“Well gentlemen, you are about to see a baked Appel.” - George Appel, who killed a police officer. He was executed by the electric chair in 1928.

“I didn’t get my Spaghetti – O’s, I got spaghetti. I want the press to know this.” - Thomas J. Grasso, who murdered two people. He was executed by lethal injection on March 20, 1995.

“Kiss my ass !” - John Wayne Gacy, known as the “Killer Clown,” He raped and murdered 33 men in a 6 year span. He was executed by lethal injection on May 10, 1994.

“I have nothing to say” - Amelia Dyer, who was thought to have murdered over 400 children. She was hanged on June 10, 1896.

“Go Raiders!” - Robert Charles Comer, a condemned killer and rapist. He was executed by lethal injection in 1988.

“Take a step forward, lads. It will be easier that way” - Erskine Childers, an Irish patriot rebel. He was executed by firing squad on November 24, 1922.

“You sons of bitches. Give my love to Mother. “- Francis “Two Gun” Crowley, who was a murderer and criminal. He was executed in the electric chair in 1931.

“Good people are always so sure their right.” - Barbara Graham, was a criminal and murderer. She was killed in the gas chamber on June 3, 1955.

“You can be a king or a street sweeper, but everyone dances with the Grim Reaper. “- Robert Alton Harris, was convicted of murdering two teenage boys. He was executed in the gas chamber on April 21, 1992.

“I am innocent, innocent, innocent. Make no mistake about this. I owe society nothing. I am an innocent man and something very wrong is taking place tonight. “- Lionel Herrera, who murdered two police officers. He was executed by lethal injection on May 12, 1993.

“I love you, Mom,” - Clarence Lackey, who was convicted of capital murder. He was executed by lethal injection on May 2, 1997.

“ Capital punishment : them without the capital get the punishment. “- John Spenklelink, murderer. He was executed in the electric chair on May 25,1979.

“Beam me up.” - Gary Burris, murderer. He was executed by lethal injection on November 20,1977.

“See you all on the other side. Warden, murder me . . . I’m ready to roll. Time to get this party started. “- James Jackson, who killed his wife and two step – daughters . He was executed by lethal injection on February 7, 2007.

“Kathy you know I never meant to hurt you. I gave you my everything, and that’s what made me so angry. But I never meant to hurt you. I’m sorry” - Carlos Granados, who stabbed his girlfriend Kathy Jimenez, and killed her three-year-old son. He was executed by lethal injection on January 10, 2007.

“There is no way words can express how sorry I am for taking the lives of my babies. Now I can be with my babies, as I always intended, “- Christina Marie Riggs, who killed her two young children. She was executed by lethal injection on May 3, 2000.

“My darling Gerti, my wife, I love you endlessly my honey bird. Till we meet again, stay strong. Love, Billy. “- William Jones, who murdered the man he was having a gay affair with. He was executed on October 20, 2002.

“I understand the feelings of the Oestricker family, and I ask their forgiveness . . . I want to stress to them that I did not go down there that night to harm Jerry. I deeply regret how it turned out.” - James W. Chambers, who fatally shot Jerry Oestricker. He was executed on November 15, 2000.

“I love you all, and I’m sorry for what I done. I’m sorry for killing your mom and what I done to you.” - Rocky Barton, who murdered his wife. He was executed by lethal injection on July 12, 2006.

“I can’t pinpoint where it started, what happened, but really believe that’s just the bottom line, what happened to me was in California. I was in their reformatory schools and penitentiary, but ah, they create monsters in there. “- David Long, who killed his three housemates. He was executed by lethal injection on December 8, 1999.

“I’ll be in Hell before you start breakfast, boy. Let her rip.” - Tom Ketchum, known as “Black Jack. “ He was said to have killed many people, but was executed for his part in a train robbery. He was hanged on April 26, 1901.

“Take your time. Don’t bungle it.” - Dr. H.H. Holmes, one of the first American serial killers. He confessed to 27 murders, some of which he took from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. He was hanged on May 7, 1896.

“Such is life.” - Ned Kelly, who is considered a folk hero in Australia, but his multiple murders earned his execution by hanging in 1880.

“I don’t even know why I’m here. “ - Albert Fish, who was a kidnapper, murderer and cannibal in the 1920s. He claimed to have killed over 100 children. He was executed by electric chair in 1936

“ I would suggest that when a person has a thought of doing anything against the law, that before they did that they should go to a quiet place and think about it seriously, “ - William Bonin, the “Freeway Killer,” who killed between 20 and 30 young men and boys in Southern California. He was executed by lethal injection in 1996.

“It’s all right.” - Carroll Cole, who killed people between 1945 and 1980, and possibly committed acts of cannibalism on some of his victims. He was executed by lethal injection in 1985.

Gentlemen, I have one last piece of advice : Look away. This will not be pretty to see.” - Marcel Petiot, who was a French doctor who killed around 60 people between the ages 1920s and 1940s. He was executed by guillotine in 1946.

These last words are quite a collection of thoughts that came across the minds of killers in their last moments. I wonder if these thoughts were spur of the moment, or rehearsed thoughts. How do think you would want to express your thoughts in the last few seconds of life? It may all depend on your situation, but it seems some still had a sense of humor. This list made me ponder as to what I would want to say to finalize my actions and thoughts.