Gregory Russeau was executed tonight by the state of Texas
for a murder committed in 2001. Russeau beat a 75-year-old man to death with a
heavy, blunt object thought to be a hammer, then stole the victim’s car. Hours
after the victim was discovered, the police found Russeau driving that very
same vehicle.
Because Texas no longer allows special last meal requests,
Russeau was served the same food as others in his unit. For his last meal,
Russeau had a baked pork chop, macaroni and cheese, green beans, mixed
vegetables, black-eyed peas, and cornbread, with a choice of tea, punch, or
water to drink.
For more on Gregory Russeau’s last meal, see the first of
our new appetizer-sized Last Suppers videos HERE
Impending death didn't seem to hamper the appetite of a convicted killer before his execution in Missouri tonight; Richard Strong asked for fried chicken, a cheeseburger, and some doughnuts prior to his appointment with the Grim Reaper. Strong earned his death sentence for killing both his girlfriend and the woman's young daughter with a butcher knife in 2000.
After lingering on death row for over three decades, Lester Bower Jr. was finally executed by the state of Texas tonight. Bower earned his death sentence for the murders of four men during what appeared to be the theft of an ultralight airplane valued at around $4,000. Parts of the airplane were found at Bower's home after the murders, along with ammunition matching the bullets used in the multiple homicide.
Bower always claimed innocence, and won multiple appeals while on death row. In fact, he was given seven execution dates over the years, but the first six were stayed while various courts considered Bower's legal claims.
Because Texas no longer allows special last meal requests, Bower was served the same food as others in his unit. For his last meal, Bower had baked chicken, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, black eyed peas, cornbread, sliced bread, and oatmeal bars, with a choice of water, tea, or punch to drink.
Dealing with so many execution dates over the years must have been harrowing for Bower; as a bonus, however, the condemned man did finally earn the seventh punch on his Execution Card and was able to claim his free sub sandwich.
