List of last meals
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of documented last meals by death row prisoners before their executions. This represents the items requested, as reported, but does not in all cases represent what the prisoner actually received.
Europe
Germany
| Name | Crime | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Susanna Margaretha Brandt | Murder | 1772 | Decapitation by sword | A glass of water. Brandt was previously offered a feast consisting of three pounds of bratwurst, ten pounds of beef, six pounds of baked carp, twelve pounds of lamb roast, soup, cabbage, bread, an unspecified dessert and eight litres of wine. She rejected the meal; it was instead eaten by officials.[1] |
| Fritz Haarmann | Serial murder | 1925 | Decapitation by guillotine | An expensive cigar and a cup of Brazilian coffee.[2] |
| Karl Hopf | Serial murder | 1914 | Decapitation by guillotine | Sausages, bread and beer.[3] |
| Mathias Kneißl | Murder and robbery | 1902 | Decapitation by guillotine | Six glasses of beer.[4] |
| Peter Kürten | Serial murder and rape | 1931 | Decapitation by guillotine | Wiener schnitzel, fried potatoes and a bottle of white wine. He requested a second helping and received it.[5] |
| Karl Ludwig Sand | Murder | 1820 | Decapitation by sword | Gruel.[6] |
| Friedrich Schumann | Serial murder | 1921 | Decapitation by axe | Frikadellen and Teltow turnips.[7] |
| Adolf Seefeldt | Serial murder | 1936 | Decapitation by guillotine | A roast chicken.[8] |
| Ten leaders of Nazi Germany | Each convicted of one or more of: Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of a crime against peace; Planning, initiating and waging wars of aggression and other crimes against peace; Participating in war crimes; Crimes against humanity. | 1946 | Hanging | Sausage and cold cuts, along with potato salad, black bread and tea.[9] |
Others
| Name | Crime | Country | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Casement | Treason (enlisting help from the German Empire for the Easter Rising) | UK | 1916 | Hanging | Sacramental bread. Casement converted to Catholicism before his execution and stated he intended to go "to my death with the body of my God as my last meal."[10] |
| Ruth Ellis | Murder | UK | 1955 | Hanging | Scrambled egg.[11] |
| Véronique Frantz | Serial murder | France | 1854 | Decapitation by guillotine | Café au lait and a bread roll.[12] |
| Louis XVI | High treason | France | 1793 | Decapitation by guillotine | A pan-fried chicken, some pastries, boiled beef and puréed turnips. He additionally received a dessert consisting of two chicken wings, vegetables, two glasses of wine cut with water, a piece of sponge cake, and a glass of Malaga wine.[13] |
| Charles Peace | Serial murder | UK | 1879 | Hanging | Eggs and a large amount of salty bacon. He asked for a cup of iced water, but it was denied.[14] |
| Ion Pistol | Murder | Socialist Republic of Romania | 1987 | Shooting | An onion omelette.[15] |
Asia
Indonesia
| Name | Crime | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. N. Aidit | 30 September Movement | 1965 | Firing squad (extrajudicial killing by army) | Bentoel cigarettes unsympathetically given by an army colonel upon request.[16] |
| Amrozi and Huda bin Abdul Haq | Terrorism; involved in the 2002 Bali bombings | 2008 | Firing squad | Roti canai and chips made from Indian three-leaved yam. The two were brothers and shared the same last meal, which was provided by their family.[17] |
| Freddy Budiman | Possession of narcotic drugs | 2016 | Firing squad | Homemade meals made by his former mother-in-law: Otak-otak fish cakes, and rendang.[18] |
| Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran | Australian ringleaders of the Bali Nine | 2015 | Firing squad | KFC. Although Indonesia does not normally grant last meal requests, Sukumaran and Chan were granted their KFC feast via officials.[19] |
| Sekarmadji Maridjan Kartosuwiryo | Rebellion, waging war against Indonesia | 1962 | Firing squad | Rendang and rice. He shared the meal with his wife and children, but he personally did not eat it.[20] |
| Imam Samudra | Terrorism; involved in the 2002 Bali bombings | 2008 | Firing squad | Emping mlinjo, sagon (Javanese coconut cookies), and pepes made from mackerel.[17] |
| Astini Sumiasih | Murder | 2005 | Firing squad | Bread, calamari, and assorted fruits.[21] |
Others
| Name | Crime | Country/Territory | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheng Chieh | Mass murder; involved in the 2014 Taipei Metro attack | Taiwan | 2016 | Gunshot | Bento, consisting of stewed pork, rice and vegetables.[22] |
| Johannes van Damme | Drug trafficking | Singapore | 1994 | Hanging | Roast chicken with salad and Coca-Cola on ice, fried eggs and sausages,[23] and a meal of specially-made pea soup with sausages from the Dutch Embassy.[24] |
| Leo Echegaray | Rape of his 10-year-old stepdaughter | Philippines | 1999 | Lethal injection | Sardines and dried fish. When the reprieve was announced, he shared the food with relatives who had gathered at the prison.[25] |
| Adolf Eichmann | Holocaust perpetrator | Israel | 1962 | Hanging | Declined a special meal, instead requesting a bottle of Carmel red wine with the usual prison food of cheese, bread, olives, and tea. He drank about half of the bottle.[26] |
| Mona Fandey | Murder | Malaysia | 2001 | Hanging | Declined a last meal; she was instead given a dinner from KFC.[27] |
| Saddam Hussein | Crimes against humanity | Iraq | 2006 | Hanging | The Times states that "he refused their offers of cigarettes and a last meal of chicken and shawarma rice."[28] Other sources state Hussein ate his last meal of chicken and rice, and had a cup of hot water with honey. Regardless of the source, whatever Hussein actually had for his last meal is unknown.[citation needed] |
| Ajmal Kasab | Terrorism; involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks | India | 2012 | Hanging | A tomato along with "jail food", and two cups of masala tea. He also drank four bottles of mineral water.[29][30] |
| Theerasak Longji | Murder | Thailand | 2018 | Lethal injection | Sticky rice with grilled chicken.[31] |
| Yakub Memon | Terrorism; involved in the 1993 Bombay bombings | India | 2015 | Hanging | Declined a special meal; he was given a breakfast of upma, which he did not eat.[32] |
| Somsak Pornnarai | Murder and rape | Thailand | 1999 | Shooting | Plain rice, tofu soup with minced pork, khanom mo kaeng and a bottle of water.[33] |
| Jaime Gómez José, Edgardo Payumo Aquino and Basílio Pineda, Jr. | Abduction, raped and assaulted Maggie de la Riva | Philippines | 1972 | Electric chair | Rice, kare-kare, chicken tinola, lobster, crispy pata, lechon, fried lapu lapu, and ice cream. |
| John Martin Scripps | Murder spree | Singapore | 1996 | Hanging | A pizza and a cup of hot chocolate.[34] |
| Jimmy Chua Chap Seng | Unlawful possession of firearms | Malaysia | 1989 | Hanging | Meat and seafood.[35] |
| Tangaraju Suppiah | Drug trafficking | Singapore | 2023 | Hanging | Chicken rice, nasi biryani, ice cream soda, and Milo-flavoured sweets,[36] and a bowl of wanton noodles.[37] |
| Hideki Tojo | Japanese war crimes | Japan | 1948 | Hanging | Rice, miso soup, and grilled fish.[38] |
Canada
| Name | Crime | Province | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur Lucas and Ronald Turpin | Murder | Ontario | 1962 | Hanging | Steak, potatoes, vegetables and pie.[39] |
United States
Alabama
| Name | Crime | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Cobern | Robbery | 1964 | Electrocution | Fried chicken, French fried potatoes, rolls, milk, coffee and coconut cream pie.[40][41] |
| Derrick Ryan Dearman | Mass Murder | 2024 | Lethal injection | A seafood platter brought to the prison from a local restaurant, consisting of "fried catfish, three fried shrimp, three boiled shrimp, three fried oysters, three onion rings, a deviled crab and two sides".[42] |
| John Louis Evans | Murder | 1983 | Electrocution | A shrimp dinner.[43] |
| Demetrius Terrence Frazier | Murder | 2025 | Nitrogen hypoxia | A beefy five-layer burrito, a chicken chalupa supreme, beef crunchy tacos, chips and dip, and a Mountain Dew, all ordered from Taco Bell.[44] |
| Keith Edmund Gavin | Murder | 2024 | Lethal injection | Declined a last meal, but he accepted a snack of ice cream and Mountain Dew from the prison vending machines.[45] |
| Carey Dale Grayson | Murder | 2024 | Nitrogen hypoxia | Soft tacos, beef burritos, a tostada, chips and guacamole, and a Mountain Dew Baja Blast, all of which were ordered from local restaurants.[46] |
| James Barney Hubbard | Murder | 2004 | Lethal injection | Two fried eggs over-medium, four slices of bacon, sliced tomatoes, fried green tomatoes, pineapple slices with mayonnaise, white bread, a banana and a medium-sized bottle of V8 juice.[citation needed] |
| Andrew Reid Lackey | Murder | 2013 | Lethal injection | Grilled cheese sandwich, turkey bologna and french fries.[47] |
| Rhonda Belle Martin | Serial murder | 1957 | Electrocution | A hamburger, mashed potatoes, cinnamon rolls and coffee.[48] |
| Alan Eugene Miller | Mass Murder | 2024 | Nitrogen hypoxia | A hamburger steak, a baked potato and French fries.[49] During his previous failed execution, Miller had meatloaf, chuckwagon steak, American cheese, French fries, apple sauce, mashed potatoes, macaroni, apples and an orange drink.[50] |
| Jamie Ray Mills | Murder | 2024 | Lethal injection | A seafood platter with three large shrimp, two catfish filets, three oysters, a stuffed crab and onion rings.[51][52] |
| Walter Moody | Murder | 2018 | Lethal injection | Declined a special meal, but shared two Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, a bag of chips, two bottles of Dr Pepper, one bag of M&M's and a Hershey bar with almonds with two attorneys and three friends before the execution.[53] |
| John Forrest Parker | Murder | 2010 | Lethal injection | Fish and chips and iced tea.[54] |
| Domineque Ray | Murder and rape | 2019 | Lethal injection | Declined a special meal, but had the regular breakfast meal for that day consisting of eggs, potatoes, two biscuits, jelly, prunes and milk.[55] |
| Matthew Reeves | Murder | 2022 | Lethal injection | Declined a special meal, but asked for a bottle of Sprite before his execution.[56] |
| Kenneth Eugene Smith | Murder | 2024 | Nitrogen hypoxia | A T-bone steak, eggs, hash browns, and toast slathered in A.1. Sauce.[57] Although Alabama typically provides last meals the afternoon of the execution, Smith's last meal was served at 10 a.m., and he was not permitted to drink any liquids after 4 p.m., two hours before his execution was scheduled to begin. This was done as a precaution to minimize the chance that Smith would vomit into his mask as the gas was being pumped in.[58] During his previous failed execution, Smith ate catfish fillets, baked potato, and cole slaw.[59] |
| Jack Harrison Trawick | Serial murder | 2009 | Lethal injection | Fried chicken, French fries, onion soup and a roll.[60] |
| Billy Wayne Waldrop | Serial murder | 1997 | Electric chair | Steak with fried onions, baked potato, salad and chocolate cake.[61] |
| Thomas Warren Whisenhant | Serial murder | 2010 | Lethal injection | Chicken leg quarters, french fries, American cheese, orange drink, coffee and chocolate pudding.[62] |
| Nathaniel Woods | Murder | 2020 | Lethal injection | Chicken patty, chicken leg quarter, spinach, sweet potatoes, French fries, cooked apples, two oranges and orange flavored drink.[63] |
Arizona
| Name | Crime | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Jarvis Atwood | Murder and kidnapping | 2022 | Lethal injection | Declined a last meal, saying that he was fasting, then changed his mind and accepted a meal tray consisting of salami, slices of white and wheat bread, a snack bag of tortilla chips, mustard, peanut butter, jelly and water with a juice packet.[64] |
| Clarence Dixon | Murder | 2022 | Lethal injection | Kentucky Fried Chicken, strawberry ice cream and a bottle of water.[65] |
| Richard Djerf | Mass murder | 2025 | Lethal injection | Double cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato, onion rings with ketchup, a piece of cherry pie with whipped cream and a Pepsi.[66] |
| Randy Greenawalt | Mass Murder | 1997 | Lethal injection | Two cheeseburgers, french fries with extra salt, coffee with milk.[67] |
| Douglas Edward Gretzler | Serial murder | 1998 | Lethal injection | Six fried eggs (over easy), four strips of bacon (chewy), two slices of buttered toast, one cup of coffee, and two bottles of Coca-Cola (served with ice).[68] |
| Aaron Gunches | Murder | 2025 | Lethal injection | Carl's Jr. Double Bacon Western Cheeseburger, french fries, onion rings, baklava, and Coca-Cola.[69] |
| Donald Eugene Harding | Murder | 1992 | Gas chamber | Fried eggs, bacon, toast, butter, honey and orange juice.[68] |
| Robert Glen Jones Jr. | Murder | 2013 | Lethal injection | Jones declined to have a special last meal, but he accepted the regular meal set from the daily prison menu, which consisted of hamburger patties, mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots, two slices of wheat bread, glazed cake and a powdered-juice drink.[70][71] |
| Karl-Heinz LaGrand | Murder | 1999 | Lethal injection | Two BLT sandwiches on white bread with mayonnaise, four fried eggs (over easy), a medium portion of hash browns, two breakfast rolls with strawberry jelly, half a pint of pineapple sherbet, a cup of coffee, a medium slice of German chocolate cake and a cup of milk.[72] |
| Walter Bernhard LaGrand | Murder | 1999 | Gas chamber | Six fried eggs (over easy), 16 strips of bacon, a breakfast steak (well-done), a large serving of hash browns, a pint of pineapple sherbet, a can each of Coca-Cola, 7 Up and Dr Pepper, a cup of coffee, a cup of ice, hot sauce, two packs of sugar and four Rolaids.[72] |
| Jeffrey Timothy Landrigan | Murder | 2010 | Lethal injection | Steak, french fries, fried okra, strawberry shake and Dr Pepper.[68] |
| Michael Kent Poland | Murder | 1999 | Lethal injection | Three Fried eggs, sunny side up; four slices of bacon; hash brown potatoes; two slices of whole wheat toast, with two pats of butter; two individual serving size boxes of Raisin Bran cereal; two cartons of milk; two cups of Tasters Choice coffee.[68] |
| Richard Dale Stokley | Double murder | 2012 | Lethal injection | One Porterhouse steak, french fries, okra, cauliflower, salad with blue cheese dressing, cheddar cheese, fruit (one banana, one apple, one peach), cream soda and chocolate ice cream.[73][74] |
| Joseph Rudolph Wood III | Murder | 2014 | Lethal injection | Two cookies.[68] |
Arkansas
| Name | Crime | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Waybern Hall | Serial murder | 1946 | Electrocution | Steak, pork chops and strawberry ice cream.[75] |
| Jack Harold Jones Jr. | Serial murder | 2017 | Lethal injection | Fried chicken, fried potato logs with tartar sauce, beef jerky bites, three candy bars, a chocolate milkshake and fruit punch.[76] |
| Ledell Lee | Murdered his neighbor | 2017 | Lethal injection | Holy Communion. |
| Eric Randall Nance | Murder | 2005 | Lethal injection | Two bacon cheeseburgers, french fries, two pints of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, and two bottles of Coca-Cola. |
| Marion Albert Pruett | Murder spree | 1999 | Lethal injection | A stuffed crust pizza from Pizza Hut, four Burger King Whoppers, a large order of french fries, fried okra, fried eggplant, fried squash, a pecan pie, three two-liter bottles of Pepsi, a bucket of ice, a bottle of ketchup and salt. In an interview prior to his execution date, he said he was going to share his last meal with another inmate who was going to be executed the same day. He went on to say he originally planned to request roast duck for his last meal, but he felt the prison would likely not prepare it. |
| Ricky Ray Rector | Murder | 1992 | Lethal injection | Steak, fried chicken, cherry Kool-Aid, and a pecan pie. Rector, rendered mentally incapacitated by his suicide attempt after murdering a police officer, said that he did not eat the pie because he was "saving it for later".[77] |
| Christina Marie Riggs | Murder | 2000 | Lethal injection | Supreme pizza, salad, fried okra, cherry limeade and strawberry shortcake.[78] |
| Paul Ruiz | Capital murder | 1997 | Lethal injection | Caesar salad.[79] |
| Kenneth Dewayne Williams | Serial murder | 2017 | Lethal injection | Two pieces of fried chicken with a side of sweet rice, BBQ pinto beans, a slice of bread, a peanut butter cookie, and a cinnamon roll.[80] |
| Marcel Wayne Williams | Murder | 2017 | Lethal injection | Three fried chicken breasts, fried potato wedges and ketchup, nacho chips with chili and cheese sauce, jalapeños, ice cream, banana pudding, and two Mountain Dews.[81][82] |
| Elijah Green Wood | Murder | 1913 | Hanging | Chicken, ice cream, cake, cantaloupe and a bottle of beer.[83] |
California
| Name | Crime | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burton Abbott | Murder and rape | 1957 | Gas chamber | French fried butterfly jumbo prawns with cocktail sauce, Ravioli, tossed green salad (mainly composed of romaine lettuce) with vinegar-and-oil dressing, chocolate cake, and a pack of Salem cigarettes.[43] |
| Clarence Ray Allen | Proxy murder[a] | 2006 | Lethal injection | Buffalo steak, frybread, Kentucky Fried Chicken, sugar-free pecan pie, sugar-free black walnut ice cream, and whole milk. He let the ice-cream thaw out for an hour and turned it into a milkshake by hand.[84] |
| Stephen Wayne Anderson | Murder | 2002 | Lethal injection | Two grilled cheese sandwiches, one pint of cottage cheese, a hominy-corn mixture, radishes, one slice of peach pie and one pint of chocolate chip ice cream.[85] |
| Donald Jay Beardslee | Murder | 2005 | Lethal injection | Refused a special meal and had regular prison fare of chili macaroni, bread, salad and cake.[86] |
| William Bonin | Serial murder and rape | 1996 | Lethal injection | Two pepperoni and sausage pizzas, three servings of chocolate ice cream, and three six-packs of Coca-Cola and Pepsi.[87] |
| Caryl Chessman | Kidnapping, rape and robbery | 1960 | Gas chamber | A ham and cheese sandwich and bottle of Coca-Cola.[43] |
| Billy Cook | Murder | 1952 | Gas chamber | Fried chicken, french fried potatoes, peas, pumpkin pie, coffee and milk.[88] |
| Elizabeth Ann Duncan | Proxy murder | 1962 | Gas chamber | A steak and a salad.[89] |
| Barbara Graham | Murder | 1955 | Gas chamber | A milkshake and a chocolate sundae.[90] |
| Robert Alton Harris | Murder | 1992 | Gas chamber | A 21-piece bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, two large pizzas, ice cream, a bag of jelly beans, a six-pack of Pepsi, and a pack of Camel cigarettes.[91][92] Though Domino's Pizza was requested, Tombstone pizza was served, per Vernell Crittendon's orders.[93] Crittendon worked at the prison and was responsible for dealing with the condemned person before his execution. |
| David Mason | Murder | 1993 | Gas chamber | Declined a special meal, but chose to have some ice water while waiting in his cell. |
| Robert Lee Massie | Murder | 2001 | Lethal injection | Fried oysters, French fries, two vanilla milkshakes and soft drinks.[94] |
| Stephen A. Nash | Serial murder | 1959 | Gas chamber | Ham sandwiches, hamburgers, pie and steak, and a gallon of milk.[95][96] |
| Aaron Mitchell | Murder | 1967 | Gas chamber | Fried chicken, bread and butter, and milk.[43] |
| Jaturun Siripongs | Murder | 1999 | Lethal injection | Two cans of Lucky Arctic iced tea and two cups of Mission Pride canned peaches.[97] |
| Darrell Keith Rich | Serial Murder | 2000 | Lethal injection | Tea, broth, and Gatorade.[98] |
| Juanita Spinelli | Murder | 1941 | Gas chamber | Turkey meat and a hamburger.[43] |
| Thomas Martin Thompson | Murder | 1998 | Lethal injection | Alaskan king crab with melted butter, spinach salad, pork fried rice, Mandarin-style spare ribs, hot fudge sundae and a six-pack of Coca-Cola.[99] |
| Keith Daniel Williams | Murder | 1996 | Lethal injection | Fried pork chops, a baked potato with butter, asparagus, salad with blue cheese dressing, apple pie, and whole milk.[100] |
| Stanley Tookie Williams III | Murder | 2005 | Lethal injection | Declined a special meal,[101] but had some oatmeal and milk before his execution.[102] |
- This is the last execution in California, 20 years ago.
Federal government
| Name | Crime | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George W. Barrett | Murder | 1936 | Hanging | Requested "the largest steak in town", but did not eat it. After his death, a reporter who had been present for the execution spotted the steak in the jail kitchen and helped himself to it.[103] |
| Brandon Bernard | Murder | 2020 | Lethal injection | Meat lover's pizza and a brownie.[104] |
| Alfred Bourgeois | Murder | 2020 | Lethal injection | Seafood-stuffed mushrooms, a platter of fried shrimp, shrimp Alfredo pasta, six buttered biscuits and cheesecake.[105] |
| Victor Feguer | Murder | 1963 | Hanging | Requested a single olive with the pit still in it.[106] |
| Carl Austin Hall | Kidnapping | 1953 | Gas chamber | Fried chicken.[107] |
| Bonnie Brown Heady | Kidnapping | 1953 | Gas chamber | Fried chicken.[107] |
| Juan Raul Garza | Murder and drug trafficking | 2001 | Lethal injection | Steak, french fries, onion rings, three slices of bread, and a soda.[108] |
| Corey Johnson | Spree murder | 2021 | Lethal injection | Pizza, jelly-filled doughnuts, and a strawberry shake. Johnson did not receive the doughnuts despite ordering them, only the pizza and strawberry shake were served to him.[109] |
| Louis Jones Jr. | Murder | 2003 | Lethal injection | Whole peaches, plums and nectarines.[110] |
| Gerhard Puff | Murder | 1954 | Electrocution | Fried chicken, sweet potatoes, asparagus tips, brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, salad and strawberry shortcake.[111] |
| Timothy McVeigh | Domestic terrorism and mass murder | 2001 | Lethal injection | Two pints of mint chocolate chip ice cream.[112][113] |
| Christopher Vialva | Murder | 2020 | Lethal injection | Pizza Hut.[114] |
Florida
| Name | Crime | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aubrey Dennis Adams Jr. | Murder | 1989 | Electrocution | One pound of popcorn shrimp, one pound of medium-size shrimp, one pound of jumbo shrimp (battered and fried), one loaf of garlic bread, french fries, pecan pie, pecan ice cream, and iced tea.[115] |
| Mark James Asay | Murder | 2017 | Lethal injection | Fried pork chops, fried ham, French fries, vanilla swirl ice cream, and a can of Coca-Cola.[116] |
| Gary Ray Bowles | Serial murder | 2019 | Lethal injection | Three cheeseburgers, bacon and french fries.[117] |
| Oscar Ray Bolin Jr. | Serial murder | 2016 | Lethal injection | Medium rare rib eye steak, baked potato with butter and sour cream, salad made of iceberg lettuce, cucumber and tomato, garlic bread, lemon meringue pie, and a bottle of Coca-Cola.[118] |
| Judy Buenoano | Murder | 1998 | Electrocution | Asparagus, broccoli, strawberries, tomatoes and a cup of tea.[78] |
| John Earl Bush | Murder | 1996 | Electrocution | One porterhouse steak, shrimp, two baked potatoes, a quarter of lemon pie and three glasses of orange juice.[119][120] |
| Ted Bundy | Serial murder | 1989 | Electrocution | Declined a special meal, so he was given (but did not eat) the traditional steak (medium-rare), eggs (over easy), hash browns, toast, milk, coffee, juice, butter, and jelly.[26][121] |
| Edward Castro | Murder | 2000 | Lethal injection | A T-bone steak, fried shrimp, fried potatoes, onion rings, fried tomatoes, ice cream and Coca-Cola.[122] |
| Loran Kenstley Cole | Murder | 2024 | Lethal injection | Pizza, M&M's, ice cream and a soda.[123] Cole shared his final meal with his son and a pen pal from outside prison.[124] |
| Allen Lee Davis | Murder | 1999 | Electrocution | One lobster tail, fried potatoes, fried shrimp, fried clams, half a loaf of garlic bread, and a quart bottle of A&W root beer.[125] |
| Ángel Nieves Díaz | Murder | 2006 | Lethal injection | Declined a special meal. He was served the regular prison meal for that day consisting of shredded turkey with taco seasoning, shredded cheese, rice, pinto beans, tortilla shells, apple crisp and iced tea, but declined that as well.[126] |
| Michael Durocher | Serial murder | 1993 | Electrocution | Five pounds of fried jumbo shrimp, a pint of chocolate ice cream and a two-liter bottle of Pepsi.[127] |
| James Dennis Ford | Murder | 2025 | Lethal injection | A steak, macaroni and cheese, fried okra, sweet potato, pumpkin pie and sweet tea.[128] |
| Louis Gaskin | Serial murder | 2023 | Lethal injection | Barbeque pork ribs, buffalo wings, turkey neck, shrimp fried rice, french fries with honey barbeque sauce, and water.[129] |
| Arthur Frederick Goode III | Murder | 1984 | Electrocution | A steak, corn, broccoli and cookies.[130] |
| David Alan Gore | Serial murder | 2012 | Lethal injection | Fried chicken, french fries and butter pecan ice cream.[131] |
| Jeffrey Hutchinson | Mass murder | 2025 | Lethal injection | Salmon, mahi-mahi, asparagus, baked potato and iced tea.[132] |
| Bryan Frederick Jennings | Child murder and rape | 2025 | Lethal injection | One cheeseburger, soda and fries.[133] |
| Thomas Knight | Murder | 2014 | Lethal injection | A bag of Fritos, sweet potato pie, coconut cake, banana nut bread, vanilla ice cream, butter pecan ice cream, strawberries and a quart bottle of Sprite.[134] |
| Bobby Joe Long | Serial murder | 2019 | Lethal injection | Roast beef, bacon, french fries and soda.[135] |
| Danny Rolling | Serial murder | 2006 | Lethal injection | Lobster tail, butterfly shrimp, baked potato, strawberry cheesecake, and sweet tea.[136] |
| Manuel Pardo Jr. | Serial murder | 2012 | Lethal injection | Roast pork, red beans, rice, avocado, tomatoes, plantains, pumpkin pie, olive oil, egg nog, and Cuban Coffee.[137] |
| Thomas Harrison Provenzano | Murder | 2000 | Lethal injection | Half a grilled cheese sandwich, half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, baked beans, hot canned apples, two slices of bread and tea.[138] |
| Glen Edward Rogers | Murder | 2025 | Lethal injection | Pizza, chocolate cake, soda.[139] |
| Mark Dean Schwab | Murder | 2008 | Lethal injection | Fried eggs, bacon, sausage links, hash browns, buttered toast and a quart of chocolate milk. |
| Samuel Lee Smithers | Double murder | 2025 | Lethal injection | Fried chicken, fried fish, a baked potato, apple pie with vanilla ice cream and a sweet tea.[140] |
| John Spenkelink | Murder | 1979 | Electrocution | A flask of Jack Daniel's, shared with the prison superintendent.[141] |
| Gerald Eugene Stano | Serial murder | 1998 | Electrocution | Delmonico steak, a baked potato with sour cream and bacon bits, tossed salad with Roquefort dressing, buttered lima beans, a half gallon of mint chocolate-chip ice cream and a 2-litre bottle of Pepsi.[142] |
| Robert Austin Sullivan | Murder | 1983 | Electrocution | Steak, french fries, milk, and fresh strawberries.[143] |
| Michael Anthony Tanzi | Murder | 2025 | Lethal injection | Pork chop, bacon, a baked potato, corn, soda, ice cream, and a candy bar.[144] |
| Jerry White | Murder | 1995 | Electrocution | Grilled round steak, French fried potatoes, coleslaw, toast, and orange juice.[145] |
| Aileen Wuornos | Serial murder | 2002 | Lethal injection | Had Kentucky Fried Chicken with a friend a few days before the execution. On the day of the execution, she had a hamburger and other snack food from the prison's canteen. Later, she drank a cup of coffee.[146] |
| Edward James Zakrzewski II | Mass murder | 2025 | Lethal injection | Fried pork chops, fried onions, potatoes, bacon, toast, root beer, ice cream, pie and coffee.[147][148] |
Georgia
| Name | Crime | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Alderman | Murder | 2008 | Lethal injection | Declined a special meal and was given the regular prison meal of the day consisting of baked fish, peas, cole slaw, carrots, cheese grits, buns, fruit juice, and chocolate cake.[149] Alderman originally chose fried chicken, fried shrimps and a pint of cherry or strawberry ice cream as a last meal, but did not receive it since his execution was stayed.[150] |
| Andrew Howard Brannan | Murder | 2015 | Lethal injection | 3 eggs over easy, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, sausage, pecan waffles with strawberries, milk, apple juice and decaf coffee.[151] |
| Christopher Allen Burger | Murder | 1993 | Electrocution | Water and unleavened bread.[152] |
| Robert Earl Butts Jr. | Murder | 2018 | Lethal injection | A bacon cheeseburger with American and cheddar cheese, a ribeye steak, six chicken tenders, seasoned French fries, cheesecake and strawberry lemonade.[153] |
| Robert Dale Conklin | Malice murder | 2005 | Lethal injection | Filet mignon steak wrapped in bacon; de-veined shrimp sautéed in garlic butter with lemon; a baked potato filled with sour cream, chives and bacon bits; corn on the cob; asparagus with hollandaise sauce; a buttered French baguette with goat cheese; cantaloupe; apple pie; vanilla bean ice cream and iced tea.[154] |
| Troy Anthony Davis | Murder | 2011 | Lethal injection | Declined a special meal and was offered the standard meal tray: grilled cheeseburgers, oven-browned potatoes, baked beans, coleslaw, cookies and a grape drink.[155] |
| Melbert Ray Ford Jr. | Murder | 2010 | Lethal injection | Fried fish, shrimp, a baked potato, salad, boiled corn, ice cream, cheesecake and soda.[156] |
| Carlton Michael Gary | Serial murder | 2018 | Lethal injection | Declined a special meal and requested the regular prison meal of the day: a grilled hamburger, hot dog, white beans, coleslaw and grape beverage.[157] |
| Kelly Renee Gissendaner | Murder | 2015 | Lethal injection | Cheese dip with chips, Texas nachos with fajita meat and a diet frosted lemonade. Previously Gissendaner had cornbread, buttermilk, two Burger King Whoppers, two large orders of french fries, cherry vanilla ice cream, popcorn, lemonade and a salad with boiled eggs, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, carrots, cheese and Paul Newman buttermilk dressing before her execution was stayed.[158] |
| Warren Lee Hill Jr. | Murder | 2015 | Lethal injection | Declined a special meal and was offered the institutional meal tray, consisting of shepherd's pie, mashed potatoes, red beans, cabbage relish salad, cornbread, sugar cookies and fruit punch.[159] |
| Brandon Astor Jones | Murder | 2016 | Lethal injection | Refused the option of choosing his last meal, so he was given the standard meal on the menu that day of chicken and rice, rutabaga, seasoned turnip greens, dry white beans, cornbread, bread pudding and fruit punch.[118] |
| William Earl Lynd | Murder | 2008 | Lethal injection | Two pepper jack barbecue burgers with crispy onions, baked potatoes with sour cream, bacon and cheese, and a large strawberry milkshake.[160] |
| Willie James Pye | Murder | 2024 | Lethal injection | Two chicken sandwiches, two cheeseburgers, french fries, two bags of plain potato chips, and two lemon-lime sodas.[161] |
| Thomas Dean Stevens | Murder | 1993 | Electrocution | Declined a special last meal offer, but agreed to receive the regular prison meal set of spaghetti with meat sauce, green beans, rolls, peach cobbler and iced tea.[162] |
| Marion Wilson Jr. | Murder | 2019 | Lethal injection | One medium thin-crust pizza with everything, 20 buffalo wings, one pint of butter pecan ice cream, some apple pie and grape juice.[163] |
Louisiana
| Name | Crime | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald James Bordelon | Murder | 2010 | Lethal injection | Fried sac-a-lait, topped with crawfish étouffée, a peanut butter and apple jelly sandwich, and chocolate chip cookies.[164] |
| Willie Francis | Murder | 1947 | Electrocution | Fried catfish and potatoes.[165] |
| Jimmy L. Glass | Murder | 1987 | Electrocution | A pepperoni pizza, a chef salad with blue cheese dressing, fresh peaches and cream, and two soft drinks.[166] |
| Leslie Dale Martin | Murder | 2002 | Lethal injection | Boiled crawfish, crawfish stew, a garden salad with Italian dressing, oatmeal cookies and whole milk with chocolate syrup.[167] |
| Dalton Prejean | Murder | 1990 | Electrocution | A seafood platter and an orange soda.[168] |
| Dobie Gillis Williams | Murder | 1999 | Lethal injection | Twelve chocolate bars and some ice cream. |
| Jimmy Wingo | Murder | 1987 | Electrocution | A fried seafood platter with extra shrimp, French fries, and a Coke.[169] |
Missouri
| Name | Crime | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maurice Oscar Byrd | Mass murder | 1991 | Lethal injection | Lobster, steak, bacon, shrimp fried rice and chicken breast.[170][171] |
| Russell Earl Bucklew | Murder | 2019 | Lethal injection | A Greek gyro, a smoked brisket sandwich, two orders of french fries, Coca-Cola and a banana split.[172] Previously Bucklew had a t-bone steak, caesar salad, baked potato and apple pie a la mode, before his execution was stayed.[173] |
| Christopher Leroy Collings | Murder | 2024 | Lethal injection | A bacon cheeseburger, breaded mushrooms, tater tots and a chef salad.[174] |
| Carman L. Deck | Murder | 2022 | Lethal injection | A ribeye steak, shrimps, asparagus, a salad with Italian dressing, cottage cheese and V8 juice.[175] |
| Brian Joseph Dorsey | Murder | 2024 | Lethal injection | Two bacon double cheeseburgers; two orders of chicken strips; two large orders of seasoned fries; and a pizza with sausage, pepperoni, onion, mushrooms, and extra cheese.[176] |
| Johnny Allen Johnson | Murder | 2023 | Lethal injection | A bacon cheeseburger, curly fries and a strawberry shake.[177] |
| Ernest Lee Johnson | Murder | 2021 | Lethal injection | Two double bacon cheeseburgers, onion rings, two large strawberry milkshakes and a large pizza.[178] |
| Stanley Dewaine Lingar | Murder | 2001 | Lethal injection | Corned beef sandwiches and french fries.[179] |
| Amber McLaughlin | Murder and rape | 2023 | Lethal injection | A cheeseburger, french fries, a strawberry milkshake and peanut M&Ms. |
| Roderick Nunley | Murder | 2015 | Lethal injection | Steak, shrimp, chicken strips, salad, and a slice of cheesecake.[180] |
| Lance Shockley | Murder | 2025 | Lethal injection | Peanut butter, three packs of oatmeal, water, and two sports drinks from the prison canteen.[181] |
| Michael Taylor | Murder | 2014 | Lethal injection | He did not use his right to request a specific last meal and was served potato soup and a sandwich.[182] |
| Marcellus Williams | Murder | 2024 | Lethal injection | Chicken wings and tater tots.[183] |
Ohio
| Name | Crime | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herman Dale Ashworth | Murder | 2005 | Lethal injection | Two cheeseburgers with lettuce and mayonnaise, french fries with ketchup, one Dr Pepper and one Mountain Dew.[184] |
| Robert Anthony Buell | Murder | 2002 | Lethal injection | A single, unpitted black olive.[185] |
| Kenneth Biros | Murder and robbery | 2009 | Lethal injection | A cheese pizza, onion rings, fried mushrooms, potato chips, French onion dip, cherry pie, blueberry ice cream and one Dr Pepper.[186] |
| Alton Coleman | Murder spree | 2002 | Lethal injection | Well done filet mignon smothered with mushrooms, fried chicken breasts, biscuits and gravy, salad with French dressing, french fries, onion rings, broccoli with melted cheese, collard greens, cornbread, sweet potato pie with whipped cream and a cherry Coca-Cola. |
| Richard Cooey | Murder and rape | 2008 | Lethal injection | T-bone steak with A-1 sauce, 4 eggs over easy, hash browns, onion rings, french fries, buttered toast, a pint of rocky road ice cream, bear claw pastries and a Mountain Dew.[187] |
| John Fautenberry | Serial killer | 2009 | Lethal injection | Two eggs sunny side up, fried potatoes, two slices of fried bologna, four slices of wheat bread, two slices of buttered wheat toast, four tomato slices, lettuce with mayonnaise, two 3 Musketeers bars and two packages of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.[188] |
| Marvallous Matthew Keene | Spree murder | 2009 | Lethal injection | Porterhouse steak with A-1 sauce, one pound of jumbo fried shrimp with cocktail sauce, French fries and onion rings, a tube of Pillsbury dinner rolls and butter, two plums, a mango, one pound of seedless white grapes, German chocolate cake, two bottles of Pepsi and two bottles of A&W Cream Soda.[189] |
| Ernest Martin | Murder | 2003 | Lethal injection | A cheeseburger, french fries, apple pie and a Pepsi.[190] |
| Dennis B. McGuire | Murder | 2014 | Lethal injection | Roast beef, fried chicken, a bagel with cream cheese, fried potatoes with onions, potato salad, butter pecan ice cream and a bottle of Coca-Cola.[191] |
| Ronald Ray Phillips | Murder and rape | 2017 | Lethal injection | A large cheese, bell pepper and mushroom pizza; strawberry cheesecake, a piece of unleavened bread, a bottle of Pepsi and grape juice.[192] |
| James H. Snook | Murder | 1930 | Electrocution | Fried chicken, lamb chops, mashed potatoes, ice cream and coffee.[193] |
| Frank G. Spisak | Murder | 2011 | Lethal injection | Spaghetti with tomato sauce, a salad, chocolate cake and coffee.[194] |
| Robert Van Hook | Murder | 2018 | Lethal injection | Double cheeseburgers, fries, strawberry cheesecake with whipped cream, a vanilla milkshake and grapefruit juice.[195] |
| William G. Zuern Jr. | Murder | 2004 | Lethal injection | Mashed potatoes and gravy, lasagna, macaroni and cheese, corn, garlic bread, chocolate milk, and cherry cheesecake. |
Oklahoma
| Name | Crime | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wanda Jean Allen | Murder | 2001 | Lethal injection | A bag of potato chips.[196] |
| Scott Dawn Carpenter | Murder | 1997 | Lethal injection | Barbecue beef ribs, baked beans, corn-on-the-cob, potato salad, hot rolls and lemonade.[197] |
| John David Duty | Murder | 2010 | Lethal injection | A double cheeseburger with mayonnaise, a foot-long hot dog with cheese, mustard and extra onions, a cherry limeade, and a large banana milkshake.[198] |
| Lewis Eugene Gilbert | Murder | 2003 | Lethal injection | A half-gallon of vanilla ice cream, a box of assorted cones and a box of Whoppers.[199] |
| John Marion Grant | Murder | 2021 | Lethal injection | Two bacon cheeseburgers with onion, tomato, pickles, lettuce and mustard, barbeque chips, a 2-liter bottle of Mr. Pibb, a half-gallon of Neapolitan ice cream, and a large pack of Nutter Butter sandwich cookies.[200] |
| Thomas J. Grasso | Murder | 1995 | Lethal injection | Two dozen steamed mussels, two dozen steamed clams, a double cheeseburger from Burger King, half-dozen barbecued spare ribs, two strawberry milkshakes, half a pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and diced strawberries. He also had a 16-ounce can of spaghetti with meatballs, served at room temperature.[201] However, he issued a public statement complaining that he had requested SpaghettiOs, not regular canned spaghetti.[202] |
| Scott Allen Hain | Murder | 2003 | Lethal injection | Three cheeseburgers, three orders of onion rings, ice cream and a Slush.[203] |
| Phillip Dean Hancock | Double murder | 2023 | Lethal injection | Fried chicken and root beer.[204][205] |
| John Fitzgerald Hanson | Double murder | 2025 | Lethal injection | Hanson did not make a special last meal request, but he received the regular prison meal of chicken pot pie, two rolls, two fruit cups and carrots.[206] |
| Emmanuel Littlejohn | Murder | 2024 | Lethal injection | A max meat pizza, two slices of cheesecake and a Coke.[207] |
| Clayton Derrell Lockett | Murder | 2014 | Lethal injection | Chateaubriand steak, shrimp, a large baked potato and a Kentucky bourbon pecan pie. The meal was denied because it exceeded the $15 limit. He rejected a separate offer from the warden for a dinner from Western Sizzlin'.[208] |
| Jay Wesley Neill | Mass murder | 2002 | Lethal injection | A double cheeseburger, french fries, peach or cherry cobbler, a pint of vanilla ice cream and a large bottle of cranberry-grape juice.[209] |
| Norman Lee Newsted | Murder | 1999 | Lethal injection | Five tacos, five doughnuts and a vanilla milkshake.[210] |
| Gilbert Postelle | Murder | 2022 | Lethal injection | 20 chicken nuggets with Ranch, BBQ and honey mustard dips, three large servings of French fries with ketchup, a crispy chicken sandwich, a regular chicken sandwich, a large cola and a caramel frappe.[211] |
| Richard Norman Rojem Jr. | Murder | 2024 | Lethal injection | A small Little Caesars's pizza with double cheese and double pepperoni, eight salt packets, eight crushed red pepper packets, a bottle of ginger ale, a Styrofoam cup and two vanilla ice cream cups.[212][213] |
| Anthony Sanchez | Murder | 2023 | Lethal injection | Chicken fried steak, fried okra, mashed potatoes and gravy, a roll, sweet iced tea and apple pie with vanilla ice cream.[214] |
| Sean Richard Sellers | Serial murder | 1999 | Lethal injection | Eggrolls, wonton, sweet and sour chicken, batter-fried shrimp, chow mein noodles, stir-fried vegetables, three cans of V8 juice, and a Squirt soda.[215] |
| Steven Ray Thacker | Murder | 2013 | Lethal injection | One large meat lover’s pizza, a small bag of peanut M&Ms and an A&W root beer.[216] |
| Kevin Ray Underwood | Murder | 2024 | Lethal injection | Chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, a cheeseburger with french fries and ketchup, pinto beans, a hot roll and a cola drink.[217] |
| Gary Alan Walker | Serial murder | 2000 | Lethal injection | Three cheeseburgers with extra salt, three sliced tomatoes, french fries and a strawberry malt.[218] |
South Carolina
| Name | Crime | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Arnold | Murder | 1998 | Lethal injection | A submarine sandwich, tossed salad, French fries and a vanilla milkshake, shared with his attorneys.[219] |
| Marion Bowman Jr. | Murder | 2025 | Lethal injection | Chicken wings, chicken tenders, fried shrimp, fish, oysters, onion rings, banana pudding and German chocolate cake, pineapple juice and cranberry juice.[220] |
| Stephen Corey Bryant | Spree murder | 2025 | Firing squad | Spicy mixed seafood stir-fry, fried fish over rice, egg rolls, stuffed shrimp, two candy bars, and German chocolate cake.[221] |
| Larry Gilbert | Murder | 1998 | Lethal injection | Fish, cornbread, salad, french fries, pecan pie and tea.[222] |
| J. D. Gleaton | Murder | 1998 | Lethal injection | Cinnamon roll, banana pudding, cheese and orange juice.[222] |
| Richard Charles Johnson | Murder | 2002 | Lethal injection | Fried shrimp, fried oysters, french fries, chocolate cake and iced tea.[223] |
| Mikal Mahdi | Murder | 2025 | Firing squad | A ribeye steak cooked medium, mushroom risotto, broccoli, collard greens, cheesecake and sweet tea.[224] |
| Richard Bernard Moore | Murder | 2024 | Lethal injection | A medium steak, fried catfish and shrimp, scalloped potatoes, green peas, broccoli with cheese, sweet potato pie, German chocolate cake and grape juice.[225] |
| Freddie Eugene Owens | Murder | 2024 | Lethal injection | Two cheeseburgers, some french fries, a well-done ribeye steak, six chicken wings and two strawberry sodas as well as a slice of apple pie.[226][227] |
| Joseph Carl Shaw | Murder | 1985 | Electrocution | Pizza and tossed salad.[228] |
| Brad Keith Sigmon | Murder | 2025 | Firing squad | Kentucky Fried Chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, biscuits, cheesecake and sweet tea.[229] |
| Stephen Stanko | Murder | 2025 | Lethal injection | Fried fish, fried shrimp, crab cakes, a baked potato, carrots, fried okra, cherry pie, banana pudding and sweet tea.[230] |
| Hastings Arthur Wise | Mass murder | 2005 | Lethal injection | Lobster tail, french fries, coleslaw, banana pudding and milk.[231] |
Tennessee
| Name | Crime | Date of Execution | Method of Execution | Requested Meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedley Alley | Murder | June 28, 2006 | Lethal injection | Pizza pockets, ice cream, iced oatmeal cookies, and milk.[232] |
| Byron Lewis Black | Triple murder | August 5, 2025 | Lethal injection | Pizza with mushrooms and sausage, donuts, and butter pecan ice cream.[233] |
| Robert Glen Coe | Murder Kidnapping | April 19, 2000 | Lethal injection | Fried catfish, white beans, hush puppies, coleslaw, french fries, pecan pie, and sweet tea.[234] |
| Leroy Hall Jr. | Murder Arson | December 5, 2019 | Electrocution | Philly cheesesteak, two orders of onion rings, a slice of cheesecake and a Pepsi.[235] |
| Daryl Keith Holton | Murder | September 12, 2007 | Electrocution | Declined a special request, but ate the standard meal of the day consisting of riblets on a bun, mixed vegetables, baked beans, white cake with white icing and iced tea.[236] |
| Billy Ray Irick | Murder | August 9, 2018 | Lethal injection | A "super deluxe" cheeseburger and onion rings combo meal, with a Pepsi soda.[237] |
| Cecil Johnson Jr. | Triple murder | December 2, 2009 | Lethal injection | Refused a last meal.[238] |
| David Earl Miller | Murder | December 6, 2018 | Electrocution | Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits and coffee.[239] |
| Julius Morgan | Rape | July 13, 1916 | Electrocution | A breakfast that included "all the watermelon he could eat".[240] |
| Harold Wayne Nichols | Murder Serial Rape | December 11, 2025 | Lethal injection | Beef brisket, coleslaw, a baked potato, onion rings, deviled eggs, cheese biscuits and fruit tea.[241] |
| Oscar Franklin Smith | Mass murder | May 22, 2025 | Lethal injection | Hot dogs, tater tots, an apple pie and vanilla ice cream. For a prior-scheduled execution in 2022 that was temporarily reprieved, he had double bacon cheeseburger, a deep-dish apple pie and vanilla bean ice cream.[242] |
| Nicholas Todd Sutton | Murder | February 20, 2020 | Electrocution | Fried pork chops, mashed potatoes with gravy and peach pie with vanilla ice cream.[243] |
| Stephen Michael West | Double murder Kidnapping | August 15, 2019 | Electrocution | Philly cheesesteak and french fries.[244] |
| Philip Ray Workman | Murder | May 9, 2007 | Lethal injection | Declined a special meal for himself, but he asked for a large vegetarian pizza to be given to a homeless person in Nashville, Tennessee. This request was denied by the prison, but carried out by others across the country.[245][246] |
| Edmund Zagorski | Double murder | November 1, 2018 | Electrocution | Pickled ham hocks and pig tails.[247] |
Texas
After Texas abolished last meal requests in 2011, all death row inmates in Texas have been served regular prison food.[248]
| Name | Crime | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James David Autry | Murder | 1984 | Lethal injection | A hamburger, french fries and a Dr Pepper.[249] |
| Odell Barnes Jr. | Murder | 2000 | Lethal injection | "Justice, equality, and world peace."[250] |
| Lawrence Russell Brewer | Murder | 2011 | Lethal injection | Two chicken fried steaks smothered in gravy with sliced onions, a triple meat bacon cheeseburger with fixings on the side, a cheese omelet with ground beef, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers and jalapeños, a large bowl of fried okra with ketchup, one pound of barbecue with half a loaf of white bread, three fajitas with fixings, a meat lovers pizza, three root beers, one pint of Blue Bell vanilla ice cream, and a slab of peanut butter fudge with crushed peanuts.[251] Brewer's request was granted, but he refused the meal when it arrived saying that he was simply not hungry, prompting Texas to stop granting last meal requests to condemned inmates.[252] |
| Charles Brooks Jr. | Murder | 1982 | Lethal injection | A T-bone steak, french fries, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, biscuits, peach cobbler and iced tea.[253] Originally Brooks wanted fried shrimp and oysters, but the prison chef told him shellfish was not an option.[254] |
| Ruben Cantu | Murder | 1993 | Lethal injection | Fried chicken and rice.[255] |
| Richard Cartwright | Murder | 2005 | Lethal injection | Fried chicken, a cheeseburger, onion rings, french fries, bacon, sausage, cheesecake and cinnamon rolls.[256] |
| Ignacio Cuevas | Perpetrator of the 1974 Huntsville Prison Siege | 1991 | Lethal injection | Chicken and dumplings, steamed rice, sliced bread, black-eyed peas, and iced tea.[257] |
| Donald Gene Franklin | Murder and rape | 1988 | Lethal injection | A hamburger and french fries.[258] |
| Humberto Leal Garcia | Murder and rape | 2011 | Lethal injection | Fried chicken, pico de gallo, tacos, two Cokes and a bowl of fried okra.[259] |
| Johnny Frank Garrett | Murder | 1992 | Lethal injection | Ice cream.[260] |
| Stephen Albert McCoy | Serial murder | 1989 | Lethal injection | A cheeseburger, french fries, and a strawberry milkshake.[261] |
| Kenneth Allen McDuff | Serial murder | 1998 | Lethal injection | Two T-bone steaks (well done) with all the fixings.[262] |
| Eliseo Moreno | Murder spree | 1987 | Lethal injection | Four cheese enchiladas, two fish patties, french fried potatoes with ketchup, milk and lemon pie.[263] |
| Stephen Peter Morin | Serial murder | 1985 | Lethal injection | A T-bone steak, a baked potato, butter, sweet green peas, bread rolls, banana pudding and coffee.[264] |
| Eric Charles Nenno | Murder and rape | 2008 | Lethal injection | A grilled cheeseburger, four fish patties, six hard boiled eggs and coffee.[265] |
| Ronald Clark O'Bryan | Murder | 1984 | Lethal injection | T-bone steak (medium to well done), french fries with ketchup, whole kernel corn, sweet peas, a lettuce and tomato salad with sliced egg and French dressing, iced tea, sweetener, saltines, Boston cream pie, and rolls.[266] |
| James Emery Paster | Serial murder | 1989 | Lethal injection | Steak, salad, french fried potatoes, and watermelon.[267] |
| James Edward Smith | Murder | 1990 | Lethal injection | A lump of dirt, which was denied. He settled for a cup of yogurt.[201] |
| Karla Faye Tucker | Murder | 1998 | Lethal injection | A banana, a peach and a salad with either ranch or Italian dressing.[268] |
Virginia
| Name | Crime | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earl Bramblett | Mass murder | 2003 | Electrocution | Declined a special meal and was given the regular prison meal of the day consisting of sloppy joes, boiled potatoes, corn and chocolate cake.[269] |
| James Briley | Murder, rape and robbery | 1985 | Electrocution | Fried shrimps with cocktail sauce and a lemon-lime soft drink.[270] |
| Linwood Briley | Murder, rape and robbery | 1984 | Electrocution | Grilled tenderloin steak, baked potato, green peas, salad with French dressing, peaches, buttered rolls, cake, fruit punch and milk.[271] |
| Douglas Buchanan Jr. | Mass murder | 1998 | Lethal injection | Fried chicken, sliced bread, chocolate cake, and a beverage.[272] |
| Albert Jay Clozza | Murder | 1991 | Electrocution | Did not request for a special last meal, but accepted a dinner of chili, rice, peas, pasta salad and chocolate cake.[273] |
| Edward Benton Fitzgerald Sr. | Murder | 1992 | Electrocution | Pizza and Pepsi-Cola, although he asked prison officials to not reveal his final meal request.[274] |
| Brandon Hedrick | Murder | 2006 | Electrocution | Pizza with cheese, bacon and hamburger meat; French fries with ketchup; bacon; chocolate cake and apple pie.[275] |
| Mir Aimal Kansi | Perpetrator of the CIA headquarters shooting | 2002 | Lethal injection | Fried rice, bananas, boiled eggs and wheat bread.[276] |
| Teresa Lewis | Proxy murder | 2010 | Lethal injection | Two fried chicken breasts, sweet peas with butter, a Dr Pepper and apple pie for dessert.[277] |
| Morris Mason | Murder, rape and robbery | 1984 | Electrocution | Four Big Macs, two large orders of French fries, two ice cream sundaes, two apple pies, and two large grape sodas, which he shared with two guards.[278] |
| John Allen Muhammad | Murder | 2009 | Lethal injection | Chicken and several cakes.[279] |
| Syvasky Poyner | Mass murder | 1993 | Electrocution | Fried chicken, rice and gravy, and green beans.[280] |
| Mark Arlo Sheppard | Serial murder | 1999 | Lethal injection | The vegetarian meal set from the prison's menu: boiled potatoes, fried cabbage, bean entree, bread pudding, sliced bread, fruit punch and milk.[281] |
Other states
| Name | Crime | State | Year | Method of execution | Requested meal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Albanese | Serial murder | Illinois | 1995 | Lethal injection | Prime rib, baked potato, garlic bread, coffee, Coca-Cola and pistachio ice cream.[282] |
| Lowell Lee Andrews | Murder | Kansas | 1962 | Hanging | Two fried chickens with sides of mashed potatoes, green beans and Pie a la Mode.[283] |
| Joe Arridy | Falsely accused of rape and murder | Colorado | 1939 | Gas chamber | Ice cream.[284] |
| Billy Bailey | Murder | Delaware | 1996 | Hanging | Steak (well-done), a baked potato with sour cream and butter, peas, buttered rolls and vanilla ice cream.[285] |
| Wesley Eugene Baker | Murder | Maryland | 2005 | Lethal injection | Breaded fish, pasta marinara, green beans, bread, orange fruit punch and milk (this was what was on the prison menu that day).[286] |
| Velma Barfield | Murder | North Carolina | 1984 | Lethal injection | Declined a special meal, having a bag of Cheez Doodles and a can of Coca-Cola instead.[287] |
| Martha Beck | Serial murder | New York | 1951 | Electrocution | Fried chicken, fried potatoes and salad.[5] |
| John A. Bennett | Rape and attempted murder | United States Army | 1961 | Hanging | Shrimp with cocktail sauce, hot rolls, cake, peaches, milk and coffee.[288] |
| Rodney Berget | Murder | South Dakota | 2018 | Lethal injection | Pancakes, waffles, maple syrup and butter, scrambled eggs, sausages, french fries, Pepsi, and Cherry Nibs licorice.[289][290] |
| Rainey Bethea | Murder and rape | Kentucky | 1936 | Hanging | Fried chicken, pork chops, mashed potatoes, cornbread, pickles, lemon pie, and ice cream.[291] |
| Jesse Bishop | Murder | Nevada | 1979 | Gas chamber | Filet mignon, asparagus, baked potato with sour cream, tossed salad with Thousand Island dressing and an unspecified dessert.[292] |
| Jake Bird | Murder | Washington | 1949 | Hanging | Fried chicken, strawberries and ice cream, and orange pop.[293] |
| Cal Coburn Brown | Murder | Washington | 2010 | Lethal injection | Combination meat pizza, apple pie, coffee, and milk. |
| Desmond Keith Carter | Murder | North Carolina | 2002 | Lethal injection | Declined a special meal, but had two cheeseburgers, a steak sandwich, and two cans of Coca-Cola from the prison canteen, for which he paid $4.20 from his prison account.[146] |
| Carroll Cole | Serial murder | Nevada | 1985 | Lethal injection | Jumbo shrimp, clam chowder, french fries, tossed salad with French dressing, cookies and candy.[292] |
| Joseph Edward Corcoran | Mass murder | Indiana | 2024 | Lethal injection | Ben & Jerry's ice cream.[294] |
| Charles Ray Crawford | Murder | Mississippi | 2025 | Lethal injection | Double cheeseburger, french fries, peach cobbler and chocolate ice cream.[295] |
| Francis Crowley | Murder | New York | 1932 | Electrocution | Steak and onions, french fries, apple pie and ice cream.[5] |
| Gary Lee Davis | Murder | Colorado | 1997 | Lethal injection | Chocolate and vanilla ice cream cups, shared with the prison superintendent and a manager.[296] |
| John Deering | Murder | Utah | 1938 | Firing squad | Pheasant.[297] |
| Westley Allan Dodd | Serial murder and child molestation | Washington | 1993 | Hanging | Broiled salmon and scalloped potatoes.[298] |
| James Homer Elledge | Murder | Washington | 2001 | Lethal injection | Eggs, bacon, waffles, sweet roll, cereal and orange juice. Elledge did not eat the dinner despite requesting it; his last meal was instead breakfast consisting of eggs, oatmeal, hash browns, toast, apple juice and coffee.[299] |
| Samuel Russell Flippen | Murder | North Carolina | 2006 | Lethal injection | Popcorn shrimp, hush puppies, french fries and a Coke.[300] |
| John Wayne Gacy | Serial murder | Illinois | 1994 | Lethal injection | A dozen deep-fried shrimp, a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, french fries, a pound of strawberries, and a bottle of Diet Coke.[301] |
| Ronnie Lee Gardner | Murder | Utah | 2010 | Firing squad | Lobster tail, steak, apple pie with vanilla ice cream, and 7 Up. He also requested to watch The Lord of the Rings while he ate his meal.[302] |
| Chester Gillette | Murder | New York | 1908 | Electrocution | Poached eggs, fried potatoes, rolls, coffee and several small cakes.[303] |
| Gary Gilmore | Murder | Utah | 1977 | Firing squad | A hamburger, hard-boiled eggs, a baked potato, a few cups of coffee, and three shots of (contraband) Jack Daniel's whiskey.[26][301][304] |
| Jack Gilbert Graham | Mass murder | Colorado | 1957 | Gas chamber | Declined a special meal, but was given a meal consisting of steak, fried potatoes, tossed salad, fruit cocktail and ice cream by prison officials. Graham ate only the ice cream.[305] |
| Edward Lee Harper Jr. | Murder | Kentucky | 1999 | Lethal injection | Three bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches, a bag of potato chips, a piece of pecan pie with vanilla ice cream and an RC Cola.[306] |
| Edward Ernest Hartman | Murder | North Carolina | 2003 | Lethal injection | A Greek salad, linguini with white clam sauce, cheesecake with cherry topping, garlic bread, and Coca-Cola.[307] |
| Bruno Richard Hauptmann | Lindbergh kidnapping and murder | New Jersey | 1936 | Electrocution | Celery, stuffed green olives, roast chicken, french fried potatoes, buttered peas, cherries, and a slice of white cake.[26] |
| Harry T. Hayward | Murder | Minnesota | 1895 | Hanging | Requested mallard duck, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, half of a pie, a pint of cream, hot rolls, and Vienna bread.[308] |
| Gary Michael Heidnik | Murder | Pennsylvania | 1999 | Lethal injection | Two slices of cheese pizza and two cups of black coffee.[309] |
| Mark Hopkinson | Proxy murder | Wyoming | 1992 | Lethal injection | Pizza, shared with his mother and other family members. He later asked for and received a fruit plate. |
| Ralph Hudson | Murder | New Jersey | 1963 | Electrocution | Prime rib steak, ice cream and a cigar.[310] |
| Shannon M. Johnson | Murder | Delaware | 2012 | Lethal injection | Chicken lo Mein, carrots, cake, wheat bread and margarine and iced tea.[311] |
| Richard Gerald Jordan | Murder | Mississippi | 2025 | Lethal injection | Chicken tenders, french fries, strawberry ice cream, and a root beer float.[312] |
| John Joubert | Serial murder | Nebraska | 1996 | Electrocution | Cheese pizza with green pepper and onions, strawberry cheesecake, and Coca-Cola. |
| Steven Timothy Judy | Mass murder | Indiana | 1981 | Electrocution | Prime rib, lobster tails, potatoes with sour cream, chef salad with French dressing and a dinner roll. He also requested four cans of beer but they were denied.[313] |
| Barton Kay Kirkham | Robbery and murder | Utah | 1958 | Hanging | Pizzas and ice cream.[314] |
| Richard Albert Leavitt | Murder | Idaho | 2012 | Lethal injection | Baked chicken, french fries, and milk.[315] |
| Thomas Edwin Loden Jr. | Murder | Mississippi | 2022 | Lethal injection | Fried pork chops, fried okra, a baked sweet potato, Pillsbury Grands biscuits with butter and molasses, peach cobbler with French vanilla ice cream and a Lipton sweet tea.[316][317] |
| Daryl Linnie Mack | Murder | Nevada | 2006 | Lethal injection | Fish fillet sandwich, french fries and a soft drink.[292] |
| Duncan Peder McKenzie Jr. | Murder | Montana | 1995 | Lethal injection | Tenderloin steak (medium), french fries, a tossed salad, orange sherbet and whole milk.[318] |
| Harold I. McQueen Jr. | Murder | Kentucky | 1997 | Electrocution | Two cheesecakes, shared with his attorney. |
| Emeline Meaker | Murder | Vermont | 1883 | Hanging | Two boiled eggs, two slices of toast, a baked potato, a donut and a cup of coffee.[319] |
| Carey Dean Moore | Murder | Nebraska | 2018 | Lethal injection | Pizza with bacon, beef, cheese and mushrooms, Pepsi, and strawberry cheesecake. |
| Harry Charles Moore | Murder | Oregon | 1997 | Lethal injection | Two green apples, two red apples, a tray of fresh fruit and two 2-liter bottles of Coca-Cola. |
| Richard Allen Moran | Murder | Nevada | 1996 | Lethal injection | Lasagna, chicken Parmesan, salad and ice cream.[292] |
| Leon Moser | Murder | Pennsylvania | 1995 | Lethal injection | A large cheese pizza, cheese slices, cold cuts, pasta salad, iced cup cakes and a 2-liter bottle of Coca-Cola. |
| John B. Nixon | Murder | Mississippi | 2005 | Lethal injection | A T-bone steak (well done), buttered asparagus spears, a baked potato with sour cream, peach pie, vanilla ice cream and sweet tea.[320] |
| Steven Howard Oken | Murder spree | Maryland | 2004 | Lethal injection | A chicken patty with potatoes and gravy, green beans, marble cake, milk and fruit punch, the regular prison meal of the day.[321] |
| Elijah Page | Murder | South Dakota | 2007 | Lethal injection | Steak (medium), jalapeño peppers with cream sauce, onion rings, a salad with cherry tomatoes, ham chunks, shredded cheese, bacon bits, and blue cheese and ranch dressing, coffee, lemon iced tea, and ice cream. |
| Joseph Mitchell Parsons | Murder | Utah | 1999 | Lethal injection | Three Burger King Whoppers, two large orders of french fries, a chocolate shake, chocolate chip ice cream, and a package of grape Hubba Bubba bubblegum, to be shared with his brother and a cousin.[322] |
| Paul Ezra Rhoades | Murder spree | Idaho | 2011 | Lethal injection | Hot dogs, sauerkraut, mustard, ketchup, onions, relish, baked beans, veggie sticks, ranch dressing, fruit with gelatin and strawberry ice cream cups.[323] |
| Benjamin Ritchie | Murder | Indiana | 2025 | Lethal injection | "Tour of Italy" meal from Olive Garden, which includes fettuccine alfredo, lasagna, and chicken parmigiana.[324] |
| Eric Robert | Murder | South Dakota | 2012 | Lethal injection | Ice cream.[325] |
| Michael Bruce Ross | Serial murder | Connecticut | 2005 | Lethal injection | Declined a special meal, but dined on the regular prison meal of the day: turkey à la king over rice, mixed vegetables, white bread, fruit, and a beverage.[326] |
| Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti | Murder (case still open) | Massachusetts | 1927 | Electrocution | Soup, meat, toast and tea.[327] |
| Hans Schmidt | Murder | New York | 1916 | Electrocution | Sauerbraten, string beans, mashed potatoes, cheesecake and coffee.[328] |
| Perry Edward Smith and Richard Eugene Hickock | Mass murder | Kansas | 1965 | Hanging | Shrimp, french fries, garlic bread, ice cream, and strawberries with whipped cream.[26] |
| Elmo Lee Smith | Murder | Pennsylvania | 1962 | Electrocution | Potatoes, lima beans, peach short cake and coffee.[329] |
| Charles Starkweather | Murder | Nebraska | 1959 | Electrocution | Declined the usual steak dinner, asking for assorted cold cuts instead. |
| Brian David Steckel | Murder | Delaware | 2005 | Lethal injection | Cheesesteak, coleslaw, and a Pepsi-Cola. |
| Raymond Lee Stewart | Murder spree | Illinois | 1996 | Lethal injection | Fried perch, potato salad, coleslaw, canned peaches and fruit juice.[330][331] |
| Joseph Taborsky | Murder spree | Connecticut | 1960 | Electrocution | Banana split, cherry soda, coffee with cream and sugar, and a pack of cigarettes. |
| John Albert Taylor | Murder | Utah | 1996 | Firing squad | Antacid medicine, a cigarette, and pizzas "with everything".[332] |
| William Paul Thompson | Serial murder | Nevada | 1989 | Lethal injection | Four double bacon cheeseburgers, french fries and a large Coke.[292] |
| Charles Walker | Murder | Illinois | 1990 | Lethal injection | Fried wild rabbit, biscuits, and blackberry pie.[333] |
| Roy Lee Ward | Murder | Indiana | 2025 | Lethal injection | A hamburger, a steak melt, some French fries, a baked potato with butter, 12 fried shrimps, a sweet potato, chicken alfredo, and some breadsticks.[334] |
| Keith Eugene Wells | Murder | Idaho | 1994 | Lethal injection | Whole lobster, well-done prime rib, fried potatoes, salad with tomatoes and onions and Italian dressing, two pints of ice cream, a half gallon of milk, a two-liter bottle of soda and two apple fritters.[335] |
| Hernando Williams | Murder | Illinois | 1995 | Lethal injection | Shrimp, french fries, strawberry cheesecake and soda.[336] |
| Luther Carlyle Wheeler | Murder | Mississippi | 1954 | Electrocution | Shrimp cocktail, lettuce and tomato salad, fried chicken, French fried toes, rye bread and butter, a pint of milk and a large pecan pie.[337][338] |
| Frank Wojculewicz | Double murder | Connecticut | 1959 | Electrocution | Salad and caraway seed roll.[339] |
| Douglas Franklin Wright | Serial murder | Oregon | 1996 | Lethal injection | One honey bun. |
| Matthew Eric Wrinkles | Murder | Indiana | 2009 | Lethal injection | Prime rib, a "loaded" baked potato, pork chops with steak fries, rolls and two salads with ranch dressing.[340] |
| Keith Zettlemoyer | Murder | Pennsylvania | 1995 | Lethal injection | Two cheeseburgers, fries, chocolate pudding and chocolate milk.[341] |
