Pardo Partakes of Pork, Plantains, & Pumpkin Pie

Manuel Pardo, a former policeman turned cold-blooded killer, was executed by the state of Florida tonight. Pardo was convicted of shooting nine people to death during a three-month rampage in 1986. All of the victims were thought to have ties to the drug business. Pardo claimed that he was doing the world a favor by murdering those he called “parasites,” but he also stole and used credit cards from his victims—a big no-no among self-righteous vigilantes.

During his trial, Pardo admitted that he enjoyed killing people and said he wished he had killed more. After his conviction, however, Pardo softened his persona and became known as a “Death Row Romeo” who became pen pals with dozens of women and persuaded many of them to send him money.

It’s easy to see how this deadly dreamboat gathered such a large flock of admirers. Ladies, try not to swoon as you gaze at his photograph. And to answer the question that’s racing through everyone’s mind right now—no, Brad Pitt did not have a long-lost twin brother.

For his last meal, Pardo ate roast pork, red beans, rice, plantains, avocados, and tomatoes drizzled with olive oil. He had pumpkin pie for dessert, and washed everything down with eggnog and Cuban coffee.

Stokley Has Steak, Then Gets Stuck

Richard Stokley, who earns the dubious honor of being labeled one of the "worst of the worst" for his part in the brutal deaths of two teenage girls in 1991, was executed this morning by the state of Arizona. Stokley requested the following last meal prior to his lethal injection: porterhouse steak, medium rare, with french fries; a salad of lettuce, cabbage, and cherry tomatoes; cauliflower; a wedge of cheddar cheese; a dinner roll or flaky biscuit; a large cream soda with ice; a red delicious apple, a peach, and a banana; and chocolate or Neapolitan ice cream.

Stokley had no last words. He had previously said, "I reckon I know how to die, and if it's my time, I'll go without fanfare."

George Ochoa Says, "I'll Have What He's Having."

I suppose death row inmates must find themselves strapped for good topics of conversation. Opening lines like "Seen any good movies lately?" or "So, you dating anybody?" just fall flat during prison chat sessions. But the folks on Oklahoma's death row must have been discussing last meals lately, because George Ochoa, who was executed tonight for his role in a double murder in 1993, ordered nearly the exact same last meal as his former cell block buddy Garry Thomas Allen, who was executed less than a month ago. Allen ordered a large meat lover's pizza and a Pepsi. Ochao ordered a large meat lover's pizza and a Coke.

Death row inmates in Oklahoma can only order food from local restaurants, with a spending limit of $15.

Oh, and the hosts of the fabled "Pepsi Challenge" taste test are keeping a careful tally of the results.

Hughes Confused, or Was it All a Ruse?

You’ve heard the expression “a stab in the dark”—meaning to take a wild guess? Well, that phrase applies perfectly to both the crime and the alibi of Preston Hughes, executed by the state of Texas tonight for killing a 3-year-old boy and his 15-year-old female cousin.

The way Hughes described it, he was walking through a vacant field one night when someone came up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. Hughes turned around, pulled a knife, and “just started sticking” whoever had tapped him, not even noticing that it was a teenage girl. Later on, Hughes changed his story and claimed that the girl walked up and said she wanted to borrow his contact lenses. When Hughes said he didn’t like that idea, the girl became sexually aggressive. Hughes then killed both her and the 3-year-old boy, who was her cousin.

During his trial Hughes went back to his “sticking” story, but claimed he hadn’t killed anybody. When prosecutors accused him of stabbing the two victims, Hughes said “I didn’t stab anybody. Stabbing and stuck is two different things.”

Tonight, Hughes himself was the one who got stuck—by a needle that delivered a lethal injection.

Since Texas no longer allows special last meals, Hughes was served the same food as the other inmates in his unit. His last meal was Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, and corn bread.

No Close Shave for Ramon "Razor" Hernandez

Ramon Hernandez, whose nickname on the street was "Razor," was put to death by the state of Texas tonight. Some death row inmates get a last-minute stay, but the Supreme Court refused to review Hernandez's case and an appeal in the state court was rejected as well.

Hernandez was convicted of raping, robbing, and killing a woman in 2003, but he was suspected in at least four more similar crimes. Fortunately for the rest of society, this razor turned out to be disposable.

Because Texas no longer allows inmates to place special orders, Hernandez ate the same food as everyone else in his unit. For his last meal, he was served chicken patties, macaroni and cheese, carrots, corn, beans, and brownies.