Interesting stuff I got from a friend’s blog..
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Editor’s Note: As part of CNN.com’s new Crime section, we are archiving some of the most interesting content from CourtTVNews.com.
(Court TV) — Whether it’s a sorrowful apology to family or best wishes for sports teams, the final statements of Death Row inmates before execution offer an inside look at the last moments.
Here are a selection compiled by Court TV:
“I’d like my family to take care of each other. I love you, Angel. Let’s ride.”
— Michael Richard, executed in Texas on September 25, 2007
“This is destiny. This is life. This is something Allah wants me to do. I’m not mad at you. When I get to the gates of heaven I’m going to be waiting for you. Please forgive me.”
— Johnny Ray Conner, executed in Texas on August 22, 2007
“I just want to tell my family I love y’all, man. … Keep your head up, y’all. I’m ready.”
— Kenneth Parr, executed in Texas on August 15, 2007
“Father, take me home. I’m gone, baby. I’m ready to go.”
— Lonnie Earl Johnson, executed in Texas on July 24, 2007
“Go Raiders!”
— Robert Charles Comer, executed in Arizona on May 22, 2007
“We all got to go sometime, some sooner than others. I’m going to be busy getting the Browns to the Super Bowl. Working magic. I love you guys.”
— James Filiaggi, executed in Ohio on April 24, 2007
“I am guilty. I don’t deny that … They had good evidence. Witnesses saw me. What can I say?”
— Newton Anderson, executed in Texas on February 22, 2007
“See you all on the other side. Warden, murder me … I’m ready to roll. Time to get this party started.”
— James Jackson, executed in Texas on February 7, 2007
“It was done out of fear, stupidity and immaturity. It wasn’t until I got locked up and saw the newspaper; I saw his face and smile and I realized I had killed a good man.”
— Johnathan Moore, executed in Texas on January 17, 2007
“Kathy, you know I never meant to hurt you. I gave you everything, and that’s what made me so angry. But I never meant to hurt you. I’m sorry.”
— Carlos Granados, executed in Texas 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, executed in Arkansas on May 3, 2000
“We all know what really happened, but there are some things you just can’t fight. Little people always seem to get squashed. It happens. … There is no man that is free from all evil, nor any man that is so evil to be worth nothing.”
— David Castillo, executed in Texas on August 23, 1998
“I just hope everything goes all right. I hope the Lord takes me home. Thank you, warden.”
— Clifton Allen White, executed in North Carolina on August 24, 2001
“I didn’t take [the last meal] because I have very strong convictions about abortion and the 33 million babies that have been aborted in this country. Those babies never got a first meal and that’s why I didn’t take the last in their memory.”
— Ricky Lee Sanderson, executed in North Carolina on January 30, 1998
“I’m ready to be released. Release me.”
— Kenneth Allen McDuff, executed in Texas on November 17, 1998
“All praise and glory be to Allah … may he bless this whole world with peace and his utmost blessings and may he bless this world with his utmost mercy.”
— James David Rich, executed in North Carolina on March 26, 1999
I want you to know that I did not kill your sister. If you want to know the truth, and you deserve to know the truth, hire your own investigators.”
— Pedro Muniz, executed in Texas on May 19, 1998
“The only thing I want to say is that I appreciate the hospitality you guys have shown me, and the respect. And the last meal was really good. That is about it.”
— James Collier, executed in Texas on December 11, 2002
“Baby, I love you. Ron, give Peggy a hug for me. Everybody has been so good to me. … I love all of you very much. I will see you all when you get there. I will wait for you.”
— Karla Faye Tucker, executed in Texas on February 3, 1998
“I would like to say to the world, I have always been a nice person. I have never been mean-hearted or cruel. I wish everybody well.”
— Granville Riddle, executed in Texas on January 30, 2003
“To the people of Mexico, I would like to thank them for the help. … They have suffered enough. Long live Mexico. Raise the flag of Mexico with honor. I love you.”
— Javier Suarez Medina, executed in Texas on August 14, 2002
“My darling Gerti, my wife, I love you endlessly my honeybird. Till we meet again, stay strong. Love, Billy.”
— William Jones, executed in Missouri on October 20, 2002
“Now that I’m dying, there is nothing left to worry about. I know it was a mistake. … Everybody has problems, and I won’t be part of the problem anymore. I can quit worrying now. It was all a mistake. That’s all I want to say.”
— James Colburn, executed in Texas on March 26, 2003
“If all you know is hatred, if all you know is blood-love, you’ll never be satisfied. For everybody out there that is like that and knows nothing but negative, kiss my proud white Irish ass. I’m ready, warden, send me home.”
— Robert Atworth, executed in Texas on December 14, 1999
“To my mother who truly has been hurt the most, your love and strength I carry with me always. Take care of my son. I’m finally free and I’m going home to grandmother now. I love you all and God bless.”
— Donald Jones, executed in Missouri on April 27, 2005
“I am innocent, but was not given the tools at trial, or on appeal, to make my innocence into a legal reality.”
— Stephen K. Johns, executed in Missouri on October 24, 2001
“The news reports … will say Jim Johnson is dead. Those reports will be untrue. Today I shall meet Jesus my Lord and Savior face to face. When the executioners have done their worst, God will be shown to have done his best.”
— James Johnson, executed in Missouri on January 9, 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, executed in Missouri on November 15, 2000
“I would like to tell my family ‘Thank you for your support’ and my friends. And let everyone know that you must stay strong for each other. Take care of yourselves.”
— Justin Fuller, executed in Texas on August 24, 2006
“Kick the tires and light the fire. I’m going home to see my son and my mom.”
— Richard Hinojosa, executed in Texas, August 17, 2006
“I would suggest that when a person has a thought of doing anything serious against the law, that before they did, that they should go to a quiet place and think about it seriously.”
— William George Bonin, executed in California on February 23, 1996
“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, executed in Ohio on July 12, 2006
“For 17 years the Attorney General has been pursuing the wrong man. In time he will come to know this. I don’t want anyone to avenge my death. Instead I want you to stop killing people. God bless.”
— Thomas Martin Thompson, executed in California on July 14, 1998
“Go home, have fun, smile. I’m happy. Why should I lie now? I have no anger. I have no fear.”
— Willie Shannon, executed in Texas on November 8, 2006
“My last words will be, ‘Hoka hey, it’s a good day to die.’ Thank you very much. I love you all. Goodbye.”
— Clarence Ray Allen, executed in California on January 17, 2006
“Forgiveness: Giving up all hope for a better past.”
— Robert Lee Massie, executed in California on March 27, 2001
“Redskins are going to the Super Bowl.”
— Bobby Ramdass, executed in Virginia on October 10, 2000
“Somebody needs to kill my trial attorney.”
— George Harris, executed in Missouri on September 13, 2000
“I’m guilty. I can accept my punishment. I’m sorry I done it, yeah, but it’s done.”
— Charles Walker, executed in Illinois on September 12, 1990
“A few hours ago, Wayne Snow said I had no redeeming qualities. The only thing I’ve got to say to Wayne Snow is kiss my ass. Bye.”
— William Mitchell, executed in Georgia on September 1, 1987
“Let the torture and suffering in me end.”
— R. Gene Simmons, executed in Arkansas on June 25, 1990
“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 as all other civilized countries have.”
— Roger Keith Coleman, executed in Virginia on May 20, 1992
“Let mama know I still love her. Keep that chin up.”
— Cornelius Singleton, executed in Alabama on November 20, 1992
“I was once asked by somebody, I don’t remember who, if there was any way sex offenders could be stopped. I said no. I was wrong.”
— Westley Dodd, executed in Washington on January 5, 1993
“None greater than thee, Lord.”
— Sung by Danny Rolling before his execution in Florida on October 25, 2006
“I’d like you to give my love to my family and friends.”
— Ted Bundy, executed in Florida on January 24, 1989
“I want to offer again my most profound and heartfelt apologies to my victims’ families. I am truly sorry. I have tried my best to empathize with their grief and devastation and I hope they come to know of my concerns and prayers for them.”
— Arthur Gary Bishop, executed in Utah on June 10, 1988
“Let’s do it.”
— Gary Gilmore, executed in Utah on January 17, 1977
“As the ocean always returns to itself, love always returns to itself. So does consciousness, always returns to itself. And I do so with love on my lips. May God bless all mankind.”
— James Ronald Meanes, executed in Texas on December 15, 1998
“We talk about a reprieve or stay from the Supreme Court, but the real Supreme Court you must face up there and not down here. Keep your heads up and stay strong. ”
— Jaime Elizalde Jr., executed in Texas on January 31, 2006
“To all of the racist white folks in America that hate black folks and to all of the black folks in America that hate themselves: the infamous words of my famous legendary brother, Matt Turner, ‘Y’all kiss my black ass.’ Let’s do it.”
— Brian Roberson, executed in Texas on August 9, 2000
“I can’t really 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, executed in Texas on December 8, 1999
“I’m an African warrior, born to breathe, and born to die.”
— Carl Kelly, executed in Texas on August 20, 1993
“We will keep marching. Keep marching black people, black power. … Keep marching black people. Keep marching black people. They are killing me tonight. They are murdering me tonight.”
— Gary Graham, executed in Texas on June 22, 2000
“The act I committed to put me here was not just heinous, it was senseless. But the person that committed that act is no longer here — I am.”
— Napoleon Beazley, executed in Texas on May 28, 2002
“They butchered me back there. I was in a lot of pain. They cut me in the groin; they cut me in the leg. I was bleeding profusely.”
— Bennie Demps, executed in Florida on June 8, 2000
“I lived as if I were going to be executed. That left me well-prepared. I took four people’s lives; I’m man enough to give mine.”
— Earl Richmond, executed in North Carolina on May 6, 2005
“Please tell the media, I did not get my Spaghetti-O’s, I got spaghetti. I want the press to know.”
— Thomas Grasso, executed in Oklahoma on March 20, 1995
“It’s all the state of Oklahoma’s fault.”
— Walanzo Dion Robinson, executed in Oklahoma on March 18, 2003
“We’re not here for a social event, we’re here for a killing.”
— David Wayne Woodruff, executed in Oklahoma on January 31, 2002
“You can be a king or a street sweeper, but everybody dances with the Grim Reaper.”
— Robert Alton Harris, executed in California on April 21, 1992
“Only the sky and the green grass goes on forever, and today is a good day to die.”
— David Martinez, executed in Texas on July 28, 2005
“When I die, bury me deep, lay two speakers at my feet, put some headphones on my head and rock and roll me when I’m dead. I’ll see you in Heaven someday. ”
— Douglas Roberts, executed in Texas on April 20, 2005
“Freedom, freedom at last! It’s been a good one!”
— John W. Rook, executed in North Carolina on September 20, 1986
“I’m sorry it’s taken so long to have justice served for y’all, but it’s being served now.”
— Earl Alexander Frederick Sr., executed in Oklahoma on July 30, 2002
“Sir, in honor of a true American hero: ‘Let’s roll.’ Lord Jesus receive my spirit.”
— David Ray Harris, executed in Texas on June 30, 2004
“Jane, you know damn well I did not molest that kid of yours. You are murdering me and I feel sorry for you. Get in church and get saved. I really don’t know what else to tell you.”
— William Chappell, executed in Texas on November 20, 2002
“All I have to say is if more parents would raise their children in God-fearing homes, maybe some of them wouldn’t end up in the position I’m in.”
— John Sterling Gardner, executed in North Carolina on October 23, 1992
“Like I’ve said from day one, I did not go in there and kill them — but I am no better than those that did. Jesus is Lord.”
— Edward Lagrone, executed in Texas on February 11, 2004
“All right, warden, let’s give them what they want.”
— Melvin White, executed in Texas on November 3, 2005
“I’m sorry I killed Wayne Shinn. I hope North Carolina will one day be sorry that they killed me.”
— David Lawson, executed in North Carolina on June 15, 1994
“I’ve got one thing to say: Get your warden off this gurney and shut up. I am from the island of Barbados. I am the warden of this unit. People are seeing you do this.”
— Monty Delk, executed in Texas on February 28, 2002
“Regardless of what might be seen or thought of what might be seen, there is still love, mercy and justice. Because God said that all that he has made is good and once you realize that and believe in that, everything will be fine.”
— Willie Ervin Fisher, executed in North Carolina on March 9, 2001
“Keep your heads up and know that I will be in a better place.”
— Mauriceo Brown, executed in Texas, July 19, 2006
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Its interesting how those that somehow relates to Jesus goes with the hope of being received.
Would anyone thank God for having you once lived?
Be Bless
Love,
Amanda
