Johnny Dale Black was executed tonight by the state of
Oklahoma. As a convicted killer, you would think Johnny would be the—uh—“Black
Sheep” of his family. But apparently ALL the sheep in the Black family were
black, because Johnny’s two brothers were accomplices in the same crime that
earned Johnny his death penalty conviction.
Along with two other friends, brothers Johnny Dale Black,
Jesse Jay Black, and Jimmy Lee Roy Black were all accused of murdering a horse
trainer in 1998. (The trio is apparently no relation to Johnnie Walker Black, a
popular guest at many parties they probably attended) Brothers Jesse Jay and
Jimmy Lee Roy were given long prison sentences while Johnny Dale, who inflicted
the most injury on the victim, was sentenced to death.
Black used his final statement to display obvious
displeasure about his impending demise. “This isn’t accomplishing anything,” he
said while strapped to the lethal injection table. “It’s just another death,
another family destroyed.” Black did not admit his guilt or apologize to his
victim’s family.
For his last meal, Johnny Dale Black had a 3-piece catfish dinner, a double order of french fries with catsup, a slice of blackberry cobbler, and a bottle of Pepsi. In Oklahoma, an inmate’s last meal can cost no more than $15
and must be ordered from local restaurants.
Convicted killer Allen Nicklasson's early life was bizarre and somewhat nauseating; it's little surprise, then, that the last meal he chose before his execution today in the state of Missouri was equally bizarre and nauseating.
Nicklasson's mother was a mentally-ill stripper who shot up heroine in the home, fed her son Alpo dog food for dinner, and once coerced him into fighting a Doberman Pinscher for money. When Allen grew up, he found himself homeless and addicted to drugs. He and two other men went on a crime spree that ended with three people dead, including a good samaritan who was shot to death when he stopped to help the men fix their broken car.
For his last meal, Nicklasson ordered a meat pizza, gummy bears, M&Ms, and orange juice--hopefully not all mixed together in a big bowl.
Convicted two-time killer Ronald Lott was executed tonight by lethal injection in the state of Oklahoma. Lott was found guilty of the brutal rape and murder of two elderly women, crimes which another man was convicted of until DNA evidence later proved Lott was the killer.
Because of some of the massive last meals ordered in the past, it would have been appropriate if Lott had ordered--well, a lot of food for his own last meal. But since Oklahoma only allows inmates to order their final meal from local restaurants, with a mere $15 spending limit, Lott only ate a little.
Ronald Lott's last meal was an order of fish, french fries, and hush puppies from Long John Silver's, with ketchup and tartar sauce on the side. He had no last words.
Jerry Martin, executed by the state of Texas tonight, did something few death row inmates have done; he admitted his crime and apologized for it.
Martin was serving a 50-year jail term for attempted murder when he and another inmate stole a truck and tried to escape from a prison work detail. A 59-year-old female corrections officer was killed during the attempt, and after Martin was re-apprehended a short time later, he was sentenced to death.
A condemned inmate's last days are normally a log jam of legal maneuvers, but Martin accepted his death sentence and requested that no appeals be filed on his behalf. "I didn't mean for it to happen, but it happened," he said in his final statement. "I take full responsibility."
Since Texas no longer allows inmates to request special last meals, Martin was served the same food as others in his unit. For his last meal, Jerry Martin had BBQ chopped beef, macaroni & cheese, peas & carrots, pinto beans, and sliced bread. He was given a choice of lemonade, tea, and water to drink.
