In the 31 one states that practice the death penalty, it is often custom to give a death row inmate the option of having a special last meal the night before their execution. Although some inmates choose to forgo their last meal, opting for black coffee, like Aileen Wuornos did, or like Ted Bundy, who choose nothing at all, others go all out with their final supper. The below inmates chose last meals that actually sound quite appetizing.
The death penalty may be one of the most debated-about issues within the U.S. justice system. Many argue that sentencing someone to death is inhumane, even though the person being sentenced likely did very, very evil things. Regardless of crime, death is so final. And since 1971, over 160 death row inmates have been found to have been wrongly convicted.
However, some argue that the death penalty is actually more humane. Rather than living within the prison system, a death row inmate is able to be “released.” Plus, pro-death penalty advocates argue that the threat of execution keeps crime rates low and that execution itself lessens the taxpayer’s cost of housing yet another prisoner.
Those for and those against the death penalty will most likely never see eye to eye. And while it remains a state-to-state issue, death row, execution, and last meals will stay prevalent within our American society.
1. Lawrence Russell Brewer
White supremacist Lawrence Russel Brewer requested a final meal so extravagant before his 2011 execution that the state of Texas outlawed last meals for death row inmates. Brewer reportedly ordered two chicken fried steaks, a triple-patty bacon cheeseburger, fried okra, a pound of barbecue, three fajitas, a meat-lover’s pizza, a pint of ice cream, and a slab of peanut butter fudge with crushed peanuts. He then declined to eat any of it.
2. Peter Kürten
Also known as “The Vampire of Düsseldorf,” Kürten was executed in 1931 after murdering nine people and attempting to murder seven others. He requested the Wiener Schnitzel, fried potatoes, and a bottle of white wine for his final meal — a simple and classic German dinner.
3. Marion Albert Pruett
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Dubbed the “Mad Dog Killer” after his killing spree resulted in at least five deaths, Pruett was executed in Arkansas in 1999. For his final meal, Pruett requested two cheeseburgers, six slices of pizza, eight slices of fried green tomatoes, onion rings, French fries, pecan pie and buttermilk.
4. Teresa Lewis
In 2010, Lewis became the first woman executed by way of lethal injection in Virginia after she was found guilty of murdering her husband and stepson. Her last meal consisted of fried chicken, sweet peas, a Dr. Pepper, and apple pie.
5. Philip Ray Workman
Before his 2007 execution, murderer Philip Workman turned down eating a final meal but asked that a vegetarian pizza be given to a homeless person in Nashville. His request was denied by prison authorities — however, some local groups fulfilled his request.
6. John Elliot
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Although not really a meal, six chocolate chip cookies and a cup of hot tea was sufficient enough for John Elliot before his 2003 execution for the rape and murder of Joyce Munguia.
7. Lois Nadean Smith
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After being found guilty of brutally murdering her son’s ex-girlfriend, Smith ate a dinner of barbecue ribs, onion rings, strawberry banana cake, and a cherry limeade before her 2001 execution.
8. Charles Peace
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So infamous that his crimes were noted in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes saga, burglar and murderer Charles Peace finally met his match in 1879. Before his hanging, he ate a hearty breakfast of bacon.
Editor’s Note: While we’re interested in the concept of “last meals,” we want to make it clear that we are not looking past these terrible crimes and how many families were affected.
