Arkansas 4, Killers 0

Arkansas wrapped up its month of "speed executions" with number 4 last night when Kenneth Williams shook hands with the Grim Reaper. Williams had been imprisoned for murder when he escaped in 1999 and consequently caused the deaths of three other people.

Williams asked to receive Communion before his last meal, which included two pieces of fried chicken, barbecue beans, sweet rice, whole kernel corn, stewed seasoned tomatoes, two cinnamon rolls, two cookies, four slices of bread and fruit punch.  

Arkansas Hosts Rare Execution Double Header

Arkansas managed to complete its execution double header on Monday night when it executed Marcel Williams just hours after executing Jack Jones.

Williams earned his death sentence for raping, robbing, and killing a young mother in 1994.

For his last meal, Williams followed Jones' lead by ordering a heartburn-inducing dinner of three pieces of fried chicken, potato logs with ketchup, nachos with chili cheese and jalapeno peppers, banana pudding, and two Mountain Dews.

Jack Jones Ingests Jerky and Other Junk

As Arkansas continues its bid to execute as many prisoners as possible before its supply of execution drugs expires, the state put Jack Jones to death tonight. Jones earned his death sentence after he raped a young mother and strangled her with the cord from a coffee pot in front of her child. He also tried to murder the 11-year-old child by choking her and hitting her in the head with the barrel of a BB gun, but the girl survived.

Jones, who suffered from diabetes and other ailments and once claimed that he was too unhealthy to be put to death (We know. Go figure.) ordered a stomach-churning last meal that included three pieces of fried chicken, potato logs with tartar sauce, beef jerky bites, three Butterfinger candy bars, a chocolate milkshake with Butterfinger pieces, and fruit punch.

From Deadly to Dead Lee

As our loyal readers already know, the name "Lee" is synonymous with trouble. The number of death row inmates with a first, last, or middle name of Lee is staggering. But thanks to Arkansas, the public now has one less lee to worry about. 

Last night, the state executed convicted killer Ledell Lee, who earned his death sentence for sexually assaulting then murdering a 26-year-old woman in her own home. Lee was one of eight men originally scheduled to die in Arkansas this month, before a flurry of stays and appeals put a halt to many of those executions. Arkansas, which hadn't executed a prisoner since 2005, was worried that its supply of execution drugs was about to expire and wanted to use the chemicals before they went bad. 

We've said it before, and we'll say it again; if a drug designed to kill someone "goes bad" and becomes harmful, what exactly does that mean?

For his last meal, Ledell Lee asked to be given holy communion. 

Big Day for Bigby

James Eugene Bigby was executed by the state of Texas tonight for a horrific double murder committed in 1991. The former auto mechanic killed a father and the man’s infant son on Christmas Eve, then later killed two more men that same evening. Bigby believed the men were conspiring against him in a pending legal case related to workman’s compensation.

During his murder trial, Bigby’s lawyers claimed the man was a paranoid schizophrenic and introduced evidence that Bigby was raised by an alcoholic mother who breast-fed Bibgy until he was seven years old. Bigby got agitated during the trial, managed to grab a loaded gun from behind the judge’s bench, and threatened the judge with it. He was wrestled to the ground by the judge and two other men, and the trial commenced.

Bigby spent the day of his execution sobbing in apparent remorse for his crimes.

Because Texas no longer allows special last meal requests, Bigby was served the same food as others in his unit. For his last meal, James Bigby had pepper steak, steamed rice, brown gravy, carrots, green beans, oven-fried potatoes, sliced bread, and pineapples, with a choice of tea, water, or punch to drink.

Rolando Ruiz Ruminates with Remorse

Contract killer Rolando Ruiz was executed by the state of Texas tonight for his part in the murder-for-hire death of a 29-year-old San Antonio woman. The woman’s husband and brother-in-law paid Ruiz $2,000 to be the triggerman in the scheme, which was designed to collect a large life insurance policy. The woman’s husband, Michael Rodriguez, was one of the infamous “Texas 7” who escaped from prison in 2000 and were then recaptured. Rodriguez was executed in 2008.

Unlike some convicted killers, Ruiz did actually show remorse before his execution. "Words cannot begin to express how sorry I am," he lamented at the beginning of his final statement. 

Because Texas no longer allows special last meal requests, Ruiz was served the same food as others in his unit. For his last meal, Rolando Ruiz had a fried chicken patty, mashed potatoes, country gravy, green beans, carrots, pinto beans, corn bread, and a choice of tea, punch, or water to drink.