List of people executed in Utah explained

The following is a list of people executed by the U.S. state of Utah.

List of people executed in Utah since 1976

NameRaceAgeSexDate of executionCountyMethodVictim(s)Governor
1White36MJanuary 17, 1977UtahFiring squadBennie BushnellScott M. Matheson
2Black34MAugust 28, 1987WeberLethal injectionStanley Orren Walker, Michelle Ansley, and Carol Elaine NaisbittNorman Bangerter
3White35MJune 10, 1988Salt Lake5 murder victims
4Black37MJuly 30, 1992WeberStanley Orren Walker, Michelle Ansley, and Carol Elaine Naisbitt
5White36MJanuary 26, 1996Firing squadCharla Nicole KingMike Leavitt
6White35MOctober 15, 1999IronLethal injectionRichard Lynn Ernest
7White49MJune 18, 2010Salt LakeFiring squadMichael BurdellGary Herbert
8Native American48MAugust 8, 2024IronLethal injectionClaudia Marie BennSpencer Cox

Demographics

Race
White563%
Black225%
Native American113%
Age
30–39675%
40–49225%
Sex
Male8100%
Date of execution
1976–1979113%
1980–1989225%
1990–1999338%
2000–200900%
2010–2019113%
2020–2029113%
Method
Lethal injection563%
Firing squad338%
Governor (Party)
00%
113%
338%
Mike Leavitt (R)225%
00%
Jon Huntsman Jr. (R)00%
Gary Herbert (R)113%
113%
Total8100%

List of people executed in Utah from 1850 to 1960

NameDate of executionMethod of executionVictim(s)Governor
Patsowits[1] and his brother[2] Spring 1850GarrotingPatsowits killed an emigrant settler and his brother had made several death threats
An emigrant[3] 1850Beheading
1
2
Antelope and Long Hair[4] September 15, 1854HangingTwo sons of a Mormon bishop in Cedar Valley[5] Brigham Young
3Thomas H. Ferguson[6] October 28, 1858[7] Alexander Carpenter[8] Alfred Cumming
4William CockcroftSeptember 21, 1861Firing squadRobert Brownvacant
"Unknown Man"1862Unknown person
5Jason R. Luce[9] January 12, 1864Samuel R. Bunton[10] James Duane Doty
6Robert Sutton[11] October 10, 1866Frederick WhiteCharles Durkee
7Chauncy W. MillardJanuary 29, 1869Harlem P. Swettvacant
8John Doyle LeeMarch 23, 1877Mountain Meadows massacreGeorge W. Emery
9Wallace Wilkerson[12] May 16, 1879Firing squad (botched)William Baxter
10Frederick Hopt (a.k.a. Fred Welcome)[13] August 11, 1887Firing squadJohn Franklin TurnerCaleb Walton West
11Enoch Davis[14] September 14, 1894Enoch's wife
An American Indian man1896A white woman
12Charles H. Thiede[15] August 7, 1896HangingThiede's wifeHeber Manning Wells
13Pat Coughlin[16] December 15, 1896Firing squadDeputy Sheriff Dawes and Constable Stagg
14Peter Mortensen[17] November 20, 1903James R. Hay[18]
15Frank RoseApril 22, 1904Rose's wife
16J. J. Morris[19] April 30, 1912HangingMorris' wife[20] William Spry
17Jules C. E. Szirmay (a.k.a. Jules Zirmay)May 22, 1912Firing squadThomas Karrick, a school boy
18Harry Thorne[21] September 26, 1912A grocery clerk
19Thomas RileyOctober 24, 1912A grocery clerk
20Frank RomeoFebruary 20, 1913Albert Jenkins[22]
21Joe HillNovember 19, 1915John G. Morrison and his son Arlington
22Howard DeWeese[23] May 24, 1918His wifeSimon Bamberger
23John BorichJanuary 20, 1919A woman for insurance money
24Steve MaslichJanuary 20, 1922Marco LausCharles R. Mabey
25Nick OblizaloJune 9, 1922
26George H. Gardner[24] August 31, 1923Joseph Irvine and a police officer
27Omer R. Woods[25] January 18, 1924Woods' invalid wife
28Henry C. Hett (a.k.a. George Allen)February 20, 1925Police sergeant Nephi PierceGeorge Dern
29Pedro Cano [26] May 19, 1925A woman in Park City
30Ralph W. Seyboldt[27] January 15, 1926Patrolman David H Crowther
31Edward McGowan [28] February 5, 1926Bob Blevins (and raped his wife and daughters)[29]
32Delbert Green[30] July 10, 1936Green's foster father/uncle James Green, mother-in-law/aunt, and wifeHenry H. Blood
33John W. Deering[31] October 31, 1938Oliver R. Meredith Jr.
34Donald Lawton Condit[32] July 30, 1942Harold A. ThorneHerbert B. Maw
35Robert Walter Avery[33] February 5, 1943Detective Hoyt L. Gates
36Austin Cox Jr.[34] June 19, 1944Judge Lewis V. Trueman (also killed two other men and two women)
37James Joseph Roedl[35] July 13, 1945Abigail Agnes Williams
38Eliseo J. MaresEliseo J. Mares Jr.[36] September 10, 1951Jack D. StallingsJ. Bracken Lee
39Ray Dempsey GardnerSeptember 29, 1951Shirley Jean Gretzinger
40Don Jesse Neal[37] July 1, 1955Sgt. Owen T. Farley
41
42
Verne Alfred Braasch and Melvin Leroy Sullivan[38] May 11, 1956Howard Manzione[39]
43Barton Kay KirkhamJune 7, 1958Hanging (last in Utah)David Avon FrameGeorge Dewey Clyde
44James W. Rodgers[40] March 30, 1960Firing squad[41] Charles Merrifield[42]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Schindler. Hal. Taylor's Death Was Quick . . . But Some Weren't So Lucky. The Salt Lake Tribune. 2010-06-26. January 28, 1996. 2010-06-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20100610134103/http://historytogo.utah.gov/salt_lake_tribune/in_another_time/012896.html. dead.
  2. http://signaturebookslibrary.org/?p=7605 The Unforgiven – 02 |
  3. Web site: Utah History to Go . 2017-06-08 . 2010-06-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100610134103/http://historytogo.utah.gov/salt_lake_tribune/in_another_time/012896.html . dead .
  4. Book: Wilson, R. Michael. Legal Executions in the Western Territories, 1847–1911. McFarland & Company. 164. November 1, 2010. 2010. 9780786456338.
  5. Utah: Tales of the Firing Squad. https://web.archive.org/web/20081215060857/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,807318,00.html. dead. December 15, 2008. Time. July 11, 1955. February 13, 2011.
  6. News: Schindler. Hal. Lengthy Gallows Soliloquoy [sic] Impedes Swift Justice. The Salt Lake Tribune. 2010-11-01. June 27, 1993.
  7. Book: Wilson. Legal Executions in the Western Territories. 165. 2010. McFarland . 9780786456338.
  8. News: Schindler. Hal. The Disappearance of John Baptiste Grave: Robber's Case Is 'A Lost Page of History'. The Salt Lake Tribune. 2010-11-01. August 27, 1995.
  9. Book: Elder, Robert K.. Terkel, Studs. Last Words of the Executed. University of Chicago Press. 107. 2010-11-01. 2010. 9780226202693.
  10. News: Affairs in Utah: A Murder Theatricals and Lectures Mercantile. New York Times. 2010-11-01. May 16, 1879.
  11. Book: Wilson. Legal Executions in the Western Territories. 167. 2010. McFarland . 9780786456338.
  12. News: The Death Penalty for Murder. Deseret Evening News. 2. George Q. Cannon, Brigham Young. 2010-10-06. May 16, 1879.
  13. Book: Elder. Last Words of the Executed. 110. 2010. University of Chicago Press . etal. 9780226202693.
  14. Book: Elder. Last Words of the Executed. 111. 2010. University of Chicago Press . etal. 9780226202693.
  15. Book: Wilson, R. Michael. Frontier Justice in the Wild West: Bungled, Bizarre, and Fascinating Executions. Globe Pequot. 106. 2010-11-01. 2007. 9780762743896.
  16. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85058130/1896-12-16/ed-1/seq-1/;words=Patrick+Coughlin Salt Lake Herald December 16, 1896
  17. Book: Elder. Last Words of the Executed. 112. 2010. University of Chicago Press . etal. 9780226202693.
  18. News: Peter Mortensen Must Die— Prisoner Stunned By News. Deseret News. 1. August 13, 1903. 2010-11-01.
  19. News: Martz. Maxine. Gilmore would be No. 45 on death list. Deseret News. 1. 2010-11-10. January 15, 1977.
  20. News: Hidden Rifles to Fulfill Execution Wish of Slayer. The Pittsburgh Press. United Press International. 55. 123. 2. October 27, 1938. February 8, 2011.
  21. Book: Elder. Last Words of the Executed. 113. 2010. University of Chicago Press . etal. 9780226202693.
  22. Book: Pratt, Harmel L.. Reports of cases decided in the Supreme Court of the state of Utah, Vol. 42. A.L. Bancroft & Company. 48. 2010-11-01. 1914.
  23. Cutler. Christopher Q.. Nothing less than the Dignity of Man: Evolving Standards, Botched Executions and Utah's Controversial Use of the Firing Squad. Cleveland State Law Review. 2010-11-10. 2002.
  24. Book: Elder. Last Words of the Executed. 116. 2010. etal. 9780226202693.
  25. Book: Elder. Last Words of the Executed. 117. 2010. etal. 9780226202693.
  26. Book: Gillespie, L. Kay. The Unforgiven: Utah's Executed Men. Signature Books. 100. 2010-11-01. 1997. 9781560850984.
  27. News: Firing Squad Kills Slayer. https://web.archive.org/web/20120111190843/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/361920992.html?dids=361920992:361920992&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+16%2C+1926&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=FIRING+SQUAD+KILLS+SLAYER. dead. January 11, 2012. Los Angeles Times. 6. 2010-11-10. January 16, 1926.
  28. Book: Elder. Last Words of the Executed. 118. 2010. etal. 9780226202693.
  29. Book: Gillespie. The Unforgiven. 105. 1997. 9781560850984.
  30. News: Utah Firing Squad Executes Slayer. The Evening Independent. Associated Press. 8. 2010-10-28. July 10, 1936.
  31. Book: Elder. Last Words of the Executed. 119. 2010. etal. 9780226202693.
  32. News: Murderer Killed By Firing Squad. The Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. 5. 2010-11-10. July 31, 1942.
  33. Book: Elder. Last Words of the Executed. 120. 2010. etal. 9780226202693.
  34. News: Killer of Five Executed by Utah Firing Squad. The Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. 5. 2010-10-28. June 19, 1944.
  35. Book: Elder. Last Words of the Executed. 121. 2010. etal. 9780226202693.
  36. News: Utah Firing Squad Executes Slayer. The Pittsburgh Press. United Press International. 2. 2010-10-28. September 10, 1951.
  37. News: Condemned Killer Dies Before Utah Firing Squad. Oxnard Press-Courier. United Press International. 2. 2010-10-28. July 1, 1955.
  38. News: Benedict. Howard S.. Utah Executes Two Murderers. Kentucky New Era. Associated Press. 2. 2010-10-28. May 11, 1956.
  39. News: Utah Killers Face Firing Squad Today. The Lewiston Daily Sun. Associated Press. 20. 2010-10-28. May 11, 1956.
  40. News: Slayer Shot By Firing Squad. The Milwaukee Sentinel. United Press International. 3. 2010-10-28. March 31, 1960.
  41. News: Beecham. Bill. Convicted Killer Gets His Wish: Firing Squad Monday. The Telegraph (Nashua). Associated Press. 22. 2010-10-28. November 11, 1976.
  42. News: Grim Jokes Are Tossed Before Death. The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. 19. 2010-10-29. March 31, 1960.