Garcia is No Chicken, But His Last Meal Was

Juan Martin Garcia was executed by the state of Texas tonight for his part in the robbery and murder of a former missionary, a crime which netter Garcia and his accomplices a whopping $8.
 

“If it’s God’s will, it’s God’s will,” said Garcia shortly before his death, apparently resigned to his fate. Garcia claimed to be at peace with his fate, and said he would face his execution bravely.

Because Texas no longer allows special last meal requests, Garcia was served the same food as others in his unit. For his last meal, Juan Garcia had chicken and rice casserole, green beans, corn, ranch style beans, cornbread, and a choice of tea, punch, or water to drink.

Pondering Prieto

For those who are wondering, we're still trying to track down the last meal of Alfredo Prieto, executed tonight by the state of Virginia for the murder of a young couple.

As readers of our book know, Virginia isn't exactly a fountain of information when it comes to revealing the last meals of their executed inmates:

This state ranks as a major disappointment in the world of death row dining.  Not only is the condemned man forced to choose his final meal from the bland, ordinary foods commonly available in the prison kitchen, but Virginia is the only state where the convict may opt to keep his choice of a last meal hidden from the press. This unsavory practice ensures that while the condemned man chows down, the public’s appetite for information goes unsatisfied. Come on, Virginia; get with the program!

Felonius Female Has Final Fiesta

Despite pleas to the state parole board, the US Supreme Court, and even a clemency request from the Pope himself, Kelly Gissendaner was executed by the state of Georgia early this morning for planning and directing the murder of her husband in 1997. And while neither the Pope nor Gissendander’s lawyers could arrange for a reduced sentence, the convicted murderess did partake of a reduced last meal. 

The first time Gissendaner was scheduled for a date with the Grim Reaper back in February, she ordered and received a hearty last meal which included two Whoppers with cheese and all the trimmings, two large orders of French fries, cornbread and buttermilk, a salad with boiled eggs, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, carrots, cheese, and Paul Newman buttermilk dressing, cherry vanilla ice cream, popcorn, and lemonade. For her second date, Gissendaner shied away from her previous blue collar belly buster and opted for a more demure South of the Border supper of Texas fajita nachos, cheese dip with chips, and a diet frosted lemonade—which sounds like a tasty way to say adios before you lie back for that final siesta.    

Daniel Lopez: Suicidal or Just Plain Sorry?

Daniel Lee Lopez was executed by the state of Texas tonight for causing the death of a police officer in 2009. While trying to flee from the police after a traffic stop, Lopez struck the officer with his SUV as the officer stood on the side of the highway. Later, Lopez rammed the same SUV into several police cars when they tried to block his escape. Lopez didn’t end his vehicular assault until he was shot, wounded, and apprehended.

While Lopez’s crime was a heinous one, his own lawyer tried to brand him as insane for simply accepting his death sentence without a fight. Because Lopez didn’t file endless appeals or ask for clemency from numerous courts, this was called a sign of “obvious and severe mental illness” by the lawyer, who accused Lopez of committing suicide via the legal system.

The question now becomes this: if an inmate who must be dragged to the lethal injection table kicking and screaming, perhaps making wild and bizarre statements along the way, is dubbed insane, then why is an inmate who calmly accepts his court-ordered fate without a protest labeled the same way?

Since Texas no longer allows special last meal requests, Lopez was served the same food as others in his unit. For his last meal, Daniel Lopez had baked chicken, mashed potatoes, country gravy, carrots, black eyed peas, a lemon cookie bar, and sliced bread, with a choice of water, tea, or punch to drink.