List of people executed in South Dakota explained

The following is a list of people executed by the U.S. state of South Dakota from 1877 to date. A total of 20 people have been executed in South Dakota since 1877. Prior to 1915, the sole method of execution was via hanging. South Dakota banned the death penalty in 1915, but it was reinstated in 1939. The method of execution was then changed to electrocution.[1]

Capital punishment was reinstated in South Dakota in 1979 following the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Gregg v. Georgia. The method of execution was changed from electrocution to lethal injection in 1984.[1] Since 1979, a total of 5 people have been executed, all by lethal injection.[2]

Post-Gregg

NameRaceAgeSexDate of executionCountyMethodVictim(s)Governor
1White25MJuly 11, 2007LawrenceLethal injectionChester Allan PoageMike Rounds
2White50MOctober 15, 2012MinnehahaCorrectional Officer Ronald JohnsonDennis Daugaard
3White60MOctober 30, 2012LincolnBecky O'Connell
4White56MOctober 29, 2018MinnehahaCorrectional Officer Ronald Johnson
5White63MNovember 4, 2019PenningtonDonnivan SchaefferKristi Noem

Demographics

Race
White5100%
Age
20–29120%
30–3900%
40–4900%
50–59240%
60–69240%
Sex
Male5100%
Date of execution
1976–197900%
1980–198900%
1990–199900%
2000–2009120%
2010–2019480%
2020–202900%
Method
Lethal injection5100%
Governor (Party)
00%
00%
00%
00%
Walter Dale Miller (R)00%
Mike Rounds (R)120%
360%
120%
Total5100%

Pre-Furman

NameRaceAgeSexDate of executionMethodVictim(s)Governor
1White24MMarch 1, 1877HangingWild Bill HickokJohn L. Pennington
2WhiteMJuly 13, 1882Mary EganNehemiah G. Ordway
3Native AmericanMNovember 15, 1882Joseph Johnson
4White24MDecember 15, 1882Bisente Ortez
5WhiteMFebruary 19, 1892Constable James H. BurnsArthur C. Mellette
6White62MOctober 20, 1893Electa BlightonCharles H. Sheldon
7White28MNovember 15, 1894John Meyer
8Native AmericanMDecember 28, 1894Four victims
9Black54MJuly 14, 1897Emma StoneAndrew E. Lee
10Native AmericanMSeptember 19, 1902George Puck and George OstranderCharles N. Herreid
11Native AmericanMOctober 21, 1902Ghost-Faced Bear
12Native American41MDecember 5, 1902C. Edward Taylor and John Shaw
13White19MNovember 16, 1909Mr. and Mrs. James Christie, Mildred Christie, and Michael RonayneRobert S. Vessey
14BlackMDecember 3, 1913Ellen Fox and Mildred FoxFrank M. Byrne
15White33MApril 8, 1947ElectrocutionSpecial state agent Thomas MatthewsGeorge T. Mickelson

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Frequent Asked Questions: Capital Punishment. South Dakota Department of Corrections. February 2, 2020.
  2. Web site: Searchable Execution Database. Death Penalty Information Center. February 2, 2020.