November 28, 2003

Last Supper

There's something eerie about reading the final meal requests of 310 Texas death row inmates. Lots of cheeseburgers, fried chicken and steak, but some that are slightly more interesting (for various reasons):

  • One cup of hot tea (from tea bags) and six chocolate chip cookies
  • Cool Whip and cherries
  • Same meal that is served to all other offenders in the main dining room
  • 1 bag of assorted Jolly Ranchers
  • Chocolate birthday cake with "2/23/90" written on top, seven pink candles, one coconut, kiwi fruit juice, pineapple juice, one mango, grapes, lettuce, cottage cheese, peaches, one banana, one delicious apple, chef salad without meat and with thousand island dressing, fruit salad, cheese, and tomato slices
  • 1 jar of dill pickles
  • Justice, Equality, World Peace
  • 1 apple, 1 orange, 1 banana, coconut, and peaches
  • None. Last minute he decided to eat a hamburger at his Mother's request.
  • Asked that final meal be provided to a homeless person
  • God's saving grace, love, truth, peace and freedom
  • Justice, Temperance, with Mercy
  • Yogurt
  • Lettuce and tomatoes
  • Two boxes of frosted flakes and a pint of milk

Sort of thought-provoking, in a morbid way.

I have to wonder, though, about the three inmates who ordered diet soda.

Posted November 28, 2003 9:49 AM
Comments

"Last minute he decided to eat a hamburger at his Mother's request."

This makes no sense whatsoever. What, he should eat something before he goes? Don't want to die on an empty stomach?

An interesting study might be to compare the requests with the types of felonies committed and time spent in prison. Any takers?

BTW - Why call this post "Last Meal" and not "Last Supper"? Does anyone get excecuted for lunch?

Posted by: Josh at November 28, 2003 12:56 PM

Suggestion taken - thanks.

I was thinking about your study also. But you also need to keep in mind that some of these people may have been in prison for quite some time, or at least changed significantly while they were there. The "homeless person" guy might not have been such a sweetie when he stabbed and shot two men, slitting the throat of one of them, two years earlier.

I was also wondering if there might be things that are better or worse to eat. Maybe the salt in pickles would increase your conductivity and make electrocution faster and less painful, for example. (I don't know anything about the science of that; it's just an example.)

Posted by: Reuven at November 28, 2003 1:27 PM

I have a better one. Why do they use a sterile needle when they execute someone with a lethal injection? Are they worried about infections? Maybe a lawsuit?

Posted by: Bob at November 29, 2003 7:15 PM
Post a comment









Remember personal info?