Executes Archives

Texas Executes Man After Two Decades for 2001 Murder and Rape, Victim’s Family Witnesses Closure

Huntsville, Texas – Ramiro Gonzales, a 41-year-old inmate on death row, was executed Wednesday evening at the state penitenary in Huntsville for the 2001 murder and rape of 18-year-old Bridget Townsend. Pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. following a lethal injection, Gonzales’ execution closed the final chapter on a case that had lingered for more than two decades, marked by his eventual confession and subsequent appeals for clemency. Townsend, who would have been 41 this year, …

Missouri Executes David Hosier for Murdering former Lover

Jefferson City, Missouri – On Tuesday, David Hosier, a death row inmate, was executed by lethal injection, marking the second execution in Missouri this year and the seventh in the nation. Hosier, 69, was convicted for the 2009 shooting death of his former lover, Angela Gilpin, a married mother of two. The execution took place at the Potosi Correctional Center, located about 70 miles south of St. Louis. Hosier consistently maintained his innocence, citing a …

Missouri Executes Brian Dorsey for 2006 Double Murder Despite Petition for Mercy

Jefferson City, Missouri – The state of Missouri carried out the execution of Brian Dorsey on Tuesday for the 2006 murders of his cousin, Sarah Bonnie, and her husband, Benjamin Bonnie. Dorsey’s pleas for clemency were denied, leading to his lethal injection death at 6:11 p.m, as stated by the Missouri Department of Corrections. Hours after the US Supreme Court declined to intervene, Dorsey’s execution took place following Governor Mike Parson’s rejection of his plea …

Oklahoma Executes Convicted Double Murderer in First Execution of 2024

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The state of Oklahoma carried out its first execution of the year, administering a lethal injection to Michael Dewayne Smith, a man convicted of a double murder committed during a drug-fuelled crime spree in 2002. Smith, who was 19 at the time of the murders, killed Janet Moore and Sarath Babu Pulluru in Oklahoma City. When asked for any last words, the 41-year-old simply responded, “Nah, I’m good.” This execution marks …

Georgia Executes Inmate Convicted of Murdering Ex-Girlfriend – First Execution in 4 Years

Atlanta, Georgia saw its first execution in four years as Willie James Pye, 59, was put to death at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson by lethal injection at 11:03 p.m. Pye’s execution marked the first since 2020 and stemmed from his conviction in the 1993 murder of his ex-girlfriend, Alicia Yarbrough. The Georgia Parole Board’s denial of clemency for Pye came after his public defenders argued that he was intellectually disabled with …

texas executes ivan cantu despite maintained innocence and doubts about conviction

Dallas, Texas – Texas executed Ivan Cantu on Wednesday for the murders of his cousin, James Mosqueda, and Mosqueda’s girlfriend, Amy Kitchen, in 2000. At 50 years old, Cantu was put to death by lethal injection at 6:47 pm local time after being convicted of the double homicide. Despite proclaiming his innocence until the end, Cantu addressed the families of the victims in his final speech, denying any involvement in the killings. Prosecutors maintained that …

Texas Executes Ivan Cantu, Maintaining Innocence Until the End

Huntsville, Texas – The state of Texas carried out the execution of death row inmate Ivan Cantu on Wednesday. Cantu, 50, was put to death by lethal injection for the 2000 murders of his cousin, James Mosqueda, and Mosqueda’s fiancée, Amy Kitchen. Despite the execution, Cantu maintained his innocence until the end. In his final moments, Cantu addressed the families of the victims, professing his innocence and expressing a desire for the truth to be …

Alabama Executes Convicted Killer Using Nitrogen Hypoxia, Making History as First State to Use Method

Atmore, Alabama became the first state to use nitrogen hypoxia to execute a convicted killer on Thursday. Kenneth Eugene Smith was put to death at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility. Smith had been on death row for over 30 years after being convicted of beating 45-year-old Elizabeth Sennett to death with a fireplace poker. Smith was one of several death row inmates who chose nitrogen hypoxia over lethal injection as their method of execution. …

Iran Executes Man Amid Controversy Over Fair Trial Amid Nationwide Protests

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran has garnered criticism for executing Mohammad Ghobadlou, who was convicted for running over and killing a policeman and injuring five others during mass protests in 2022. The judiciary’s Mizan news agency reported that Ghobadlou was found guilty of the killing and was executed on Tuesday, despite human rights advocates arguing that he did not receive a fair trial. The protests erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish-Iranian woman who …