I know “spooky season” has come to an end, but after hearing the theme for this week’s articles, one of the first things I thought of was to write about the last meals of notorious death row inmates. It might seem odd or even make me sound crazy, but watching documentaries and learning about serial killers has always been fascinating to me. A few years ago, I watched a Youtube video from Shane Dawson where he tasted serial killers’ last meals and the concept as well as some of the strange meal requests have stuck with me since. Before then, I had no idea that those on death row even got to choose their last meal before being executed.
Regardless of being given this opportunity, after doing more research, I found that a large number of inmates disregard the last meal, either in defiance of the ritual or for lack of appetite. In the U.S, there are different restrictions and regulations for each state, for instance in Florida, the price limit is $40 and the food must be purchased locally, while in Oklahoma, cost is limited to $15. In Louisiana, the prison ward traditionally joins the prisoner for the last meal and in one circumstance, the prison ward paid for an inmate’s entire lobster dinner.
Despite the state created the last meal ritual, in Texas, all special last meal requests have been completely abolished since 2011 after condemned prisoner and white supremacist Lawerence Brewer requested a meal so extravagant and expensive that it seemed to be a mockery of the concept. Before being put to death by means of lethal injection, Brewer asked for two steaks, a triple-meat cheeseburger, a cheese omelette, a large bowl of fried okra, three fajitas, a pint of ice cream and a pound of barbecue meat. It is unknown exactly how much of his request he actually received, but Brewer did not eat any of it, stating that he was not hungry.
After rewatching Shane Dawson’s video, and a video by Be Amazed, here are several serial killer’s last meal requests.
John Wayne Gacy – John Wayne Gacy, also known as the Killer Clown was an American serial killer and sex offender who was put to death in Illinois by lethal injection for the rape and murder of over 33 young boys and men. As “Pogo the Clown ” or “Patches the Clown”, he regularly performed at children’s hospitals and charity events.
Last meal: A pound of strawberries, a dozen deep fried shrimp, french fries, a bucket of original recipe Kentucky Fried Chicken, french fries, and a bottle of diet coke
Timothy McVeigh – Timothy McVeigh was an American domestic terrorist and mass murderer responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing which killed 168 people and injured more than 680 others. He was put to death in Indiana by lethal injection.
Last meal: Two pints of mint chocolate chip ice cream
Peter Kurten – Peter Kurten was a German serial killer also known as the vampire of Dusseldorf, who committed a series of murders and sexual assaults in the city of Dusseldorf between February and November of 1929. He murdered at least 9 people and sucked the blood of at least 20 and was executed by guillotine.
Last meal: A bottle of white wine, fried potatoes and Wienerschnitzel. He asked for a second helping and received it.
Velma Barfield – Velma Barfield was an American serial killer who was convicted of one murder but eventually confessed to six murders in total. She was executed in 1984 in North Carolina by lethal injection.
Last meal: Denied a special meal request, having a family size bag of Cheese Doodles and a 12 oz can of Coca Cola instead.
Ronnie Lee Garner – Ronnie Lee Garner was executed in Utah by a firing squad for killing a man during an attempted escape from a courthouse in 1985. He was also accused of burglary, robbery, and another account of murder.
Last meal: Steak, a lobster tail, apple pie with vanilla ice cream, and a 7 up. He requested to eat all of it while watching The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
Allen Lee Davis – Allen Lee Davis was an American murder sentenced to death by the electric chair in Florida for murdering a pregnant mother, who was beaten beyond recognizable, and her two daughters.
Last meal: One lobster tail, fried potatoes, half a pound of fried shrimp, six ounces of fried clams, half a loaf of garlic bread and 32 ounces of Barq’s root beer
Victor Feguer – Victor Feguer was a convicted murder sentenced to death by hanging. He was the last federal inmate executed in the US before the moratorium on the death penalty following Furman v. Georgia.
Last meal: A single olive with the pit still in it (after the execution the olive tree was found inside Feguer’s suit pocket, contributing to the belief that he intended to be buried alongside it so that the olive tree symbolizing peace would sprout from his grave)
Gerald Lee Mitchell – Gerald Lee Mitchell was a juvenile sentenced to death by injection for murdering a man during a drug deal and another man over a necklace.
Last meal: An assorted bag of Jolly Ranchers candy
Aileen Wuornos – An American serial killer and sex worker executed by lethal injection for murdering seven men in Florida by shooting them at point-blank range. She claimed that the murders were committed in self defense as the victims had either raped or attempted to rape her while they were soliciting sex from her.
Last meal: Declined a special meal, but ate a hamburger and other snack food from the prisoner’s canteen. Later, she drank a cup of black coffee which she requested.
Ricky Ray Rector – Ricky Ray Rector was executed by lethal injection in 1981 for murdering a police officer.
Last meal: Steak, fried chicken, cherry Kool-Aid, and a pecan pie. Said that he did not eat the pie because he was “saving it for later”
David Leon Woods – David Leon Woods was executed by lethal injection for killing a 77 year old man during a burglary.
Last meal: A standard pizza and an entire birthday cake
Thomas J. Grasso – Thomas J. Grasso was a double murder who strangled an 87 year old woman with her Christmas tree lights on Christmas Eve and was executed by lethal injection.
Last meal: Two dozen steamed mussels, two dozen steamed clams, a double cheeseburger from Burger King, half-dozen barbecued spare ribs, two strawberry milkshakes, half a pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and diced strawberries. He also had a 16-ounce can of spaghetti with meatballs, served at room temperature. His final words were “I did not get my Spaghettios. I got spaghetti. I want the press to know this.”
Peter J. Miniel: Peter J Miniel was executed to death by lethal injection for murdering and beating a man to death.
Last meal: Twenty beef tacos, twenty beef enchiladas, two double cheeseburgers, a pizza with jalapeños, fried chicken, spaghetti with salt, half of a chocolate cake, half of a vanilla cake, cookies and cream ice cream, caramel pecan fudge ice cream, A small fruit cake, two Coca-Colas, two Pepsi-Colas, two root beers, and two orange juices
Philip Ray Workman: Philip Workman was sentenced to death by lethal injection for murdering a police officer and robbing a Wendy’s restaurant.
Last meal: Declined a special meal for himself, but requested that a large vegetarian pizza would be given to a homeless person in Nashville, Tennessee. This was denied by the prison but carried out by many others across the country.
Oba Chandler: Oba Chandler was an American convicted murderer who was executed for killing Joan Rodger and her two daughters, whose bodies were found floating in Tampa Bay, Florida with their hands and feet bound.
Last meal: Two salami sandwiches on white bread with mustard, peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich on white bread, iced tea, and coffee.
