execution

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Utah: Prisoner With Dementia Won't Face Firing Squad
Inmate Who
Was Spared
Firing Squad
Dies
UPDATED
Nov 27, 2025 2:30 AM CST

Inmate Who Was Spared Firing Squad Dies

Lawyers argued Ralph Leroy Menzies couldn't understand why he was facing execution

(Newser) - A Utah man who was spared execution this fall after developing dementia during his 37 years on death row died Wednesday of apparent natural causes, according to the state's Department of Corrections. Ralph Leroy Menzies, 67, was set to die by firing squad in September, but the Utah Supreme...

Florida Man Executed in 1988 Death of Former Boss

Richard Barry Randolph was trying to get into the safe at a convenience store

(Newser) - A man convicted of raping and fatal beating his manager at a Florida convenience store in 1988 was put to death Thursday evening in the state's record 17th execution this year. Richard Barry Randolph, 63, was pronounced dead at 6:12pm following a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison...

Florida Isn't Holding Back on 2025 Executions

Ron DeSantis signs death warrant for Frank Walls, who will be state's 19th execution in 2025

(Newser) - A man convicted of fatally shooting a man and woman during a home invasion robbery and later confessing to three other killings is scheduled to be put to death in December under a death warrant signed Tuesday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who's setting a record pace for executions....

SC Carries Out 3rd Firing Squad Execution of the Year

Stephen Bryant killed 3 people in 2004

(Newser) - A South Carolina firing squad executed a man Friday, the third person to die by that method in the state this year. Three prison employees, all with live ammunition, volunteered to carry out the execution of Stephen Bryant, 44, who was pronounced dead at 6:05pm. Bryant killed three people...

After 11th-Hour Death Row Save, Inmate Found Unresponsive

Tremane Wood, 46, is recovering after medical scare in his cell

(Newser) - An Oklahoma inmate whose life was spared by the governor just moments before he was to receive a lethal injection on Thursday was later found unresponsive and rushed to receive medical attention, prison officials said. Wood was stable and alert Thursday evening, and prison officials don't suspect foul play....

Florida Executes Man Who Abducted, Killed Girl in 1979
Florida Executes Child's Killer
Nov 13, 2025 6:05 PM CST

Florida Executes Child's Killer

Rebecca Kunash was taken from her bedroom

(Newser) - A man convicted of the 1979 killing a 6-year-old girl who was abducted from her bedroom was put to death Thursday evening, Florida's record 16th execution of the year. Bryan Frederick Jennings, 66, was pronounced dead at 6:20pm following a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke,...

Inmate Declines to Choose Between the Chair, Injection

State will use lethal injection for December execution date unless he changes his mind

(Newser) - A Tennessee death row inmate has opted not to choose how he will die, leaving the state to default to lethal injection for his upcoming execution. Harold Wayne Nichols, convicted in 1990 for the 1988 rape and murder of Chattanooga State University student Karen Pulley, had the option to decide...

Ukraine Gives Russian Soldier Life for Executing POW

It's the first such conviction since the war began

(Newser) - A Ukrainian court has handed a life sentence to Russian soldier Dmitriy Kurashov for the execution-style killing of a prisoner of war, marking the first conviction of its kind since the conflict began. Kurashov, 27, was found guilty in Zaporizhzhia of shooting a surrendered, unarmed Ukrainian soldier during a January...

Child Bride Will Be Executed Unless She Can Raise $100K

Convicted of killing her husband, Goli Kouhkan's fate hinges on 'blood money'

(Newser) - A former child bride allegedly involved in the killing of her abusive husband faces execution in Iran unless she can raise about $100,000 in "blood money" by December. Goli Kouhkan, a 25-year-old member of the marginalized Baluch minority, has spent seven years on death row in Gorgan central...

Florida Executes Man Who Raped, Killed Neighbor

Norman Grim is 15th inmate the state has executed this year, almost double previous record

(Newser) - A Florida man convicted of raping and killing his neighbor decades ago was put to death Tuesday evening in a record 15th execution in Florida this year. Norman Mearle Grim Jr. , 65, was pronounced dead following a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was convicted of sexual...

Alabama Executes Man, 54, for 1993 Killing

Anthony Boyd's lawyers asked a judge to allow time for more scrutiny of the use of nitrogen gas

(Newser) - An Alabama man convicted of helping to burn a man alive in 1993 over a $200 drug debt was executed by nitrogen gas on Thursday. Anthony Boyd, 54, was pronounced dead at 6:33pm at William C. Holman Correctional Facility, authorities said. The execution was carried out by nitrogen gas,...

Palestinian Bodies Returned by Israel Show Signs of Torture: Doctors

Bodies returned without names as families asked to help ID

(Newser) - Doctors in Gaza say nearly all of the 90 bodies of Palestinians returned to Gaza by Israel as part of the ceasefire deal have evidence of torture and execution, the Guardian reports. The bodies, which arrived at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis via the International Committee of the Red Cross,...

After 3 Decades on Death Row, Miss. Executes Student's Killer

Kristy Ray, 20, was abducted, raped, and killed in 1993

(Newser) - A Mississippi man convicted of kidnapping, raping, and killing a 20-year-old community college student in 1993 was executed Wednesday after spending more than 30 years on death row. Charles Crawford, 59, was pronounced dead at 6:15pm following an injection at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman, the AP reports....

Missouri Executes Man for 2005 Killing of State Trooper

Lance Shockley long maintained his innocence

(Newser) - A Missouri man who long maintained his innocence was executed Tuesday for the fatal shooting of a state trooper more than 20 years ago. Lance Shockley, 48, was pronounced dead at 6:13pm following a lethal injection at the state prison in Bonne Terre, the AP reports. Shockley was convicted...

Florida Executes 14th Inmate of the Year
Florida Executes
72-Year-Old Inmate
Oct 14, 2025 5:56 PM CDT

Florida Executes 72-Year-Old Inmate

State's top court says elderly are not exempt from death penalty

(Newser) - A man convicted of killing two women whose bodies were found in a rural pond in 1996 was put to death Tuesday evening in a record 14th execution this year in Florida. Samuel Lee Smithers, 72, was pronounced dead at 6:15pm following a lethal injection at Florida State Prison...

Court in Texas Blocks 'Shaken Baby' Execution

Judges send Robert Roberson's case back to trial court for review

(Newser) - The nation's first execution over "shaken baby syndrome" won't take place next week after all. Texas' highest criminal court on Thursday granted an emergency stay in the case of 58-year-old Robert Roberson, reports NBC News . Roberson was set to be executed on Oct. 16 for the...

Podcast Stirs Up Even More Controversy in 'Shaken Baby' Execution

Judge's actions raise questions as Robert Roberson's execution date approaches

(Newser) - With just days before his scheduled execution , lawyers for Robert Roberson are urging Texas courts to reconsider his case, citing new evidence of judicial misconduct uncovered in a true-crime podcast that questions the fairness of his original trial. Roberson, 58, faces lethal injection for the 2002 death of his...

Tenn. Sets Execution Date for Its Only Death-Row Female

Christa Pike is scheduled to die on Sept. 26, 2026

(Newser) - The Tennessee Supreme Court on Tuesday set execution dates for four people, including the only woman in the state on death row. Christa Pike received a death sentence at age 18 for the 1995 torture slaying of Colleen Slemmer, who was a fellow Knoxville Job Corps student. The Tennessean reports...

Florida Carries Out 13th Execution of the Year

Victor Tony Jones killed married couple during robbery

(Newser) - A man convicted of killing a married couple during a robbery in South Florida in 1990 was put to death Tuesday in a record 13th execution this year in the state. Victor Tony Jones, 64, was pronounced dead at 6:13pm following a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near...

Alabama, Texas Carry Out Executions
Alabama, Texas
Put 2 Men to Death
Sep 26, 2025 12:00 AM CDT

Alabama, Texas Put 2 Men to Death

In Alabama case, son of victim had pleaded for killer's life to be spared

(Newser) - Two executions took place Thursday night, the 32nd and 33rd in the US this year:
  • An Alabama man convicted of killing a woman during a 1997 gas station robbery was put to death Thursday after apologizing to his victim's family and pleas from the woman's son to spare
...

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