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Thriller Thursday: Famous Last Meals

The last meal is customary part of a convicted criminals last day. Some states, like Texas, have done away with the tradition, but the vast majority still allow death row inmates to choose their last meal.

So what does a convicted killer who’s terrorized a community and cost the taxpayers millions of dollars choose to eat for their last day on earth?

Aileen Wuornos

Convicted of the murders of seven men in Florida. Executed by lethal injection on October 9, 1992. She declined her last meal and asked for a cup of coffee instead.

John Wayne Gacy

The “Killer Clown” raped and killed at least 33 teenaged boys. He was executed by lethal injection on May 10, 1994.

Gacy requested a dozen deep-fried shrimp, a bucket of original recipe chicken from KFC, French fries, and a pound of strawberries.

Ted Bundy

Charming psychopath extraordinaire Bundy confessed to murdering 30 women. He was electrocuted on January 24, 1989.

His last meal was declined, and although he was offered a tradition plate of steak, eggs, hash browns and coffee, he didn’t eat.

Velma Barfield

Convicted of six murders, she was the first woman in the U.S. to be executed by lethal injection.  The “Death Row Granny” requested bag of Cheez Doodles and a can of Coke.

Dennis Wayne Bagwell

He murdered his half-sister and her 4-year-old daughter, as well as two more women. Bagwell was executed in Texas on February 17, 2005, by lethal injection.

He requested: a steak, medium rare with A1 Sauce, three fried chicken breast, three fried chicken thighs, BBQ ribs, a large order of french fries, a large order of onion rings, a pound of fried bacon, a dozen scrambled eggs with onions, fried tatters with onions, sliced tomatoes, a salad with ranch dressing, two hamburgers with everything, peach pie or cobbler, ketchup, salt and pepper, milk and coffee, ice tea with real sugar.

Bruno Richard Hauptmann

A German immigrent, Hauptmann was convicted of kidnapping and killing 20 month old Charles Lindbergh Jr. He was executed on April 3, 1936, in “Old Sparky,” the infamous electric chair at New Jersey State Prison.

His last meal consisted of celery, olives, chicken, french fries, buttered peas, cherries, and a slice of cake.

Victor Feguer

Convicted of killing Dr. Edward Bartels and executed by hanging on March 15, 1963. He was the last person put to death in Iowa.

His last meal request? A single olive with the pit still inside.

William Bonin

The Freeway Killer was convicted of the rape and murder of at least 14 boys and men across the country, but the number of victims is believed to be much higher.

He was executed on February 23, 1996. His requested two pepperoni and sausage pizzas, three servings of chocolate ice cream, and fifteen cans of Coke.

Gary Gilmore

Murdered two men in Utah and gained notoriety for demanding his own death sentence be fulfilled. He was the first person executed after the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated it. He was executed by firing squad.

His last meal: hamburger, eggs, potatoes and smuggled bourbon.

Timothy McVeigh

A terrorist who detonated a bom in front of the US Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. 168 people were killed and over 800 injured. He was executed by lethal injection on July 11, 2001.

His last meal consisted of 2 pints of mint chocolate chip ice cream.

What would you choose as your last meal? I think I’d have to go full on Italian. Maybe a sausage casserole or sausage penne with some spicy vodka sauce. And a bottle of Moscotto. Go out in style.

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17 comments on… “Thriller Thursday: Famous Last Meals”

  1. I don’t know if I’d have the stomach to eat. But I’d for sure do some drinking: Moet, I think. At least three bottles because I’d want to be blotto when they came for me.
    This was an interesting list, Stacy. Especially the two extreme ends: Aileen, wanting only a cup of coffee (or the guy with the olive – what was THAT about???), and then Bagwell, having a pigout that would make a bulimic wince. Weird!

    • Me too. I’d beg for some alcohol.

      THanks so much. Yes, I do think their choices are very interesting, especially the olive. I suppose he wanted to make some sort of a statement.

  2. As much pepperoni pizza as I could stuff into my stomach!

    How could I have possibly missed that your cover was in the InD’tale contest??? I just went over and voted.

  3. I suspect you cannot order alcoholic beverages. Also, someone told me that if you order KFC, the prison kitchen still fills your order. They do not go get you takeout. Don’t know how true the alcohol and the takeout things are, but there you go.

    I think I’d ask for beef enchiladas, pan fried potatoes with bacon, nachos with jalapeños, refried beans, collard greens with bacon, and key lime pie. And iced coffee for my beverage.

    • No, I don’t think you can, either. The bourbon was supposedly smuggled in. ANd I would guess that’s true about the takeout as well.

      Your last meal sounds delicious! Anything with bacon is a win:)

  4. Interesting list. What is with the full on meal for a family, personally I would have told Bagwell no.

    Me? Well, since I have developed a intolerance to milk products in lately I would have to go with what I have been missing! Please just bring me Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream with Dark Chocolate Sauce! Lots of it, and a big pot of coffee with real Italian Cream.

    • I think it all depends on the prison and how generous they are.

      I love chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. Can’t have it in the house! Or cookie dough, for that matter.

      Thanks!

  5. Creepy but interesting, Stacy. Could my mother come cook for me? Because I’d want fried shrimp and cornbread dressing if it was yours, but not from the prison cook.

    Oddly enough, I’m thinking cereal–like Fruit Loops and milk–would be nice. I wouldn’t want to go with my stomach hurting from too heavy a meal. A piece of apple pie would be lovely as well.

  6. This was fascinating! I think I’d go as all out as I could, and definitely pile on the ice cream. Nothing to lose, right? Haha.

  7. Pingback: Gone Fishing! | Catie Rhodes

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