Texas Terminates Another Lethal Lee

Bobby Lee Hines was executed by the state of Texas tonight for killing and robbing a female neighbor in 1991. The robbery netted Hines four packs of cigarettes, a bowl full of pennies, and a gold charm shaped like a sand dollar.

If you’ve read our book, you’re already familiar with the tarnished image that comes with the name “Lee.” Countless executed men have had “Lee” as their middle name, and one study showed that 1 in 12 death row inmates have “Lee” somewhere in their name—either first, middle, or last. No one can explain why, but that particular moniker causes more than its share of dead-lee consequences.

Because Texas no longer allows special last meal requests, Hines was served the same food as everyone else on his cell block. The daily menu was grilled hamburger patties, beef hot links, French fries, green beans, pinto beans, mixed vegetables, rice, sliced bread, apple cobbler, lemonade, and milk.

Ferguson's Faux Final Feast is a Flop

It's unusual for us to post an article about the last meal of someone who's still alive, but almost everything about John Ferguson's case is unusual.

After an endless amount of legal wrangling that involved appeals, stays, lifted stays, then more stays, Ferguson’s execution in Florida was called off at the very last minute. The final stay came so late that Ferguson had already eaten his “last meal” and was headed for the execution chamber. Most of the appeals claimed that Ferguson was too mentally ill to be put to death. Among other odd behaviors, the convicted killer claims to be the “Prince of God” and believes that God will send him back to earth after his execution so he can save the United States from a Communist plot.

Those claims are definitely a bit nutty, but Ferguson’s mental instability was made glaringly obvious by what he chose for his last meal; a country-fried chicken sandwich and sweet iced tea.

If you’ve read our book, you already know that Florida offers one of the best last meal dining experiences in the entire prison system. Nearly everything is allowed, from choice cuts of beef to succulent seafood. The prison chef will shop for any unusual foods you have a taste for, with a generous spending limit of $40. Even the inmates who don’t place a special order are given a default last meal of steak and eggs. In other words, this is prison dining at its finest. Epicureans on vacation in Florida have actually found themselves pondering capital crimes just to get a taste of that fine jailhouse chow.  

To prove how elaborate a last meal in Florida can be, just look at the one ordered by Marvin Francois—John Ferguson’s accomplice—who was executed in 1985 for his part in six of the murders Ferguson committed. Francois ordered barbecued ribs, shrimp, fried chicken, lobster tail, French fries, sliced tomatoes, watermelon, strawberries, and coffee.

Now that’s a last meal, as opposed to a humble chicken sandwich—which seems far more appropriate for a pauper than a “prince.”

Stone-Cold Killer Has Frozen Last Meal

There’s no doubt about it; Eric Robert—executed today in South Dakota—was one cold dude. While serving an 80-year prison sentence for kidnapping, Robert killed a guard during a failed escape attempt. He later claimed that his one regret about the event was that he hadn’t killed even more guards.

As a testament to his stone-cold personality, Eric Robert ordered nothing but Moose Tracks ice cream for his last meal. He requested that his meal be served earlier than usual so he could fast for a full 40 hours prior to his lethal injection.

Robert wasn't the only inmate to order just dessert before he got his just desserts. Several others, including Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, asked for nothing but ice cream before they walked that rocky road to the execution chamber. 

It's Not Easy Being Green

Jonathan Green, executed by the state of Texas last night, went to his death espousing his innocence. “I’m an innocent man,” Green said in his final statement. “I never killed anyone. Y’all are killing an innocent man.” Green then looked at one of the needles used in the lethal injection process and said, “It’s hurting me bad.” Moments later, he began snoring loudly.

Green’s plea of innocence might have carried more weight if not for the fact that his murdered victim was found stuffed behind a chair in Green’s home. Green claimed that someone else must have put the body there, and that he didn’t know anything about it.

By the way, Green’s long list of prior offenses included stealing a pony from a petting zoo and stabbing it to death. Not exactly the type of thing you want on your resume if you’re claiming to be a peaceful man.

Because Texas no longer allows death row inmates to order a special last meal, Green was given the same food as the other convicts in his unit. His last meal was Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, pinto beans, and mixed vegetables.

Cleve Foster's Long Last Meal Lag

Many death row inmates get to pick a special last meal, which is then eaten 8 to 12 hours before their execution in most cases. But in a rare set of circumstances, Texas convict Cleve Foster chose and ate his "last meal" over 18 months before his execution.

Foster's first date with death was in January of 2011. He had already eaten his special last meal request (two whole fried chickens, French fries, and a five-gallon bucket of peaches) and was just minutes away from execution when he was granted a stay. Foster was given two more execution dates in 2011, but got another stay each time. He wasn't served a last meal on either of those occasions, although he came awfully close to getting a plate of chicken and nachos at the third failed execution attempt.

Today, however, Foster's luck finally gave out. Foster was finally executed in Texas, and since the state did away with special last meal requests in September 2011, he was unable to order another mountain of chicken and peaches. Instead, Foster was given the same meal as everyone else on the cell block - barbecue sandwiches, Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, carrots, and sliced bread.

Game Over for Robert Wayne Harris

A person's last words should be meaningful. Important. Something that strikes a chord with readers when that statement is reprinted in the evening paper. But not everyone seems to realizes this.

Some condemned men confess their guilt before their execution. Some quote Bible verses, or poetry, or apologize to the families of their victims. But a growing trend these days is to give a shout out to your favorite sports team just before the lethal injection takes effect. Robert Wayne Harris, executed today in Texas, was the latest to give his home team a verbal high-five.

"I'm going home. I'm going home," Harris said. "Don't worry about me. I'll be all right. God bless, and the Texas Rangers. Texas Rangers."

While the absence of a few key words left his final sentence grammatically incorrect, Harris's meaning was clear: Go Texas Rangers! (most likely the baseball team and not the law enforcement agency)

Since Texas did away with special last meal requests in 2011, Harris was served the same meal as all the other inmates. He ate chicken patties, carrots, green beans, pinto beans, and mashed potatoes.