All rights reserved.<\/b><\/p>\n
Date of Execution: March 3, 2004 Well Moms, sometime it works out like this.<\/p>\n Love life, live long.<\/p>\n When you dealin’ wit’ reality, real ain’ always what you wan’ it to be.<\/p>\n Take care yousefs.<\/p>\n Tell my kids I love ’em.<\/p>\n God is real. He is fixin’ to find out some deep things that are real.<\/p>\n Bounce back, baby, you know what I’m sayin’.<\/p>\n That’s it, Warden.<\/p>\n Date of Execution: July 28, 2005 Only the sky and the green grass goes on forever and today is a good day to die.<\/p>\n Date of Execution: January 16, 2002 Members of Mrs. Lackey’s family, like I said, I take responsibility for the death of your daughter in 1989.<\/p>\n I’m deeply sorry for the loss of your beloved daughter.<\/p>\n I am a human being also, I know how it feels.<\/p>\n I cannot explain and can’t give you no answers.<\/p>\n I can give you just one thing.<\/p>\n I’m’a give a life for a life.<\/p>\n I am not saying this to be facetious.<\/p>\n I hope you find comfort in my execution.<\/p>\n As for me, I am happy, that is why you see me smiling.<\/p>\n I am glad to be leaving this world.<\/p>\n I am going to a better place.<\/p>\n I have made peace with God, I am born again.<\/p>\n I hope you get over any malice or hatred you feel.<\/p>\n God bless all yawl.<\/p>\n (Sings)<\/em><\/p>\n Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,<\/p>\n That saved a wretch like me,<\/p>\n I once was lost but now am found,<\/p>\n Was blind, but now, I see…<\/p>\n Date of Execution: February 8, 2003 I want to thank my family for their help and moral support and their struggle.<\/p>\n Woulda been a whole lot harder without their love.<\/p>\n Me? I’m just going back home. I will see yawl one of these days.<\/p>\n Just don’t rush it. I will be there always. I’ll be watching over you.<\/p>\n I love yawl, huh.<\/p>\n I’ll see yawl in Slayton, Texas.<\/p>\n Dios te mandas contigo mi espiritu. Cuida mi familia.<\/em><\/p>\n Pull the plug, Warden.<\/p>\n Date of Execution: June 6, 2006 I know you folks is here to find closure for the things I have done.<\/p>\n There are no words to describe the pain and suffering you have went through all these years, and that is something that I cannot take back from you.<\/p>\n I hope that Megan, if she is here present today, knows that today I hope you all get peace and joy.<\/p>\n I am sorry it has taken 14 years to get closure.<\/p>\n If it would have brung closure or brung her back, I would have did this years ago.<\/p>\n I promise, I promise.<\/p>\n I didn’t mean to inflict the pain and suffering on your family.<\/p>\n I pray that she is safe in heaven.<\/p>\n I pray that you find closure and strength.<\/p>\n I am sorry, I am truly sorry.<\/p>\n You all take care.<\/p>\n Pastor, tell Megan I am sorry.<\/p>\n Date of Execution: June 13, 2001 I deeply regret what happened. I did not intentionally or knowingly harm anyone.<\/p>\n That’s it and didmau<\/em>. (Vietnamese for “let’s get out of here.”)<\/p>\n Date of Execution: May 24, 2006 I would like to say to my family, I am alright.<\/p>\n Leo? Donde esta, Leo?<\/em><\/p>\n Esta aqui, Leo?<\/em><\/p>\n Don’t lie, man. Be happy.<\/p>\n Are you happy?<\/p>\n Are you all happy?<\/p>\n Date of Execution: September 27, 2004 Sharla, Lamar, Sonny, Michelle, yawl know I love you.<\/p>\n Tell ever’body I said hey, I love ’em and I will see ’em on the other side. K?<\/p>\n Now I just pray that if there is anything ‘gainst me \u2014 that God will take it on home.<\/p>\n I don’t want nobody talkin’ bad at nobody.<\/p>\n I don’t want nobody bein’ bitter.<\/p>\n Keep clean hearts and I will see yawl on the other side. K?<\/p>\n I love yawl, stay sweet.<\/p>\n Kick the tires and light the fire, I am goin’ home to see my infant baby girl and my mom.<\/p>\n Date of Execution: August 14, 2002 First of all, I would like to apologize to the family members of the Cadena family for whatever hurt and suffering I caused you.<\/p>\n I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me.<\/p>\n The peace you find will be a temporary peace, true peace will come only through Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n I pray through this execution that you will find the peace you seek.<\/p>\n Give yourself to Jesus.<\/p>\n I thought about your loved one a whole lot.<\/p>\n He will be in heaven waitin’ on me.<\/p>\n I will then talk to him personal and ask for his forgiveness.<\/p>\n To my family, I thank you and love you for being there for me and supporting me.<\/p>\n Forgive me for the pain I caused you.<\/p>\n (Spanish)<\/em><\/p>\n To all the people of M\u00e9jico that supported me: I carry each and every one of you in my heart.<\/p>\n If you are going to demonstrate, I don’t want you to do nothing crazy to these people.<\/p>\n They are good people, they have suffered enough.<\/p>\n Long live M\u00e9jico.<\/p>\n Date of Execution: May 28, 2002 The act I committed to put me here was brutal and senseless.<\/p>\n But the person that committed that act is no longer here \u2014 I am.<\/p>\n I’m not going to struggle physically against these restraints.<\/p>\n I’m not going to shout, use profanity or make threats.<\/p>\n Understand though that I am saddened by what is happening here tonight. I’m disappointed that a system supposed to protect and uphold what is just can be so much like me when I made the same I’m sorry that John Luttig died.<\/p>\n And I’m sorry that it was something in me that caused all of this to happen to begin with.<\/p>\n Tonight we tell the world that there are no second chances in the eyes of justice.<\/p>\n Tonight we tell our children that in some instances killing is righteous.<\/p>\n There are a lot of men like me on death row \u2014 good men \u2014 who fell to the same misguided emotions.<\/p>\n Give those men a chance to do what’s right, undo their wrongs.<\/p>\n A lot of them want to fix the mess they started, but don’t know how.<\/p>\n The problem is the system is telling them there is no rehabilitation.<\/p>\n Only unforgiving punishment.<\/p>\n Date of Execution: September 11, 2001 I would like to say to the Mosebys that I am very, very sorry of depriving you of your mama and daddy.<\/p>\n To Warden Taggett and Chaplain Jesse Turner, I thank you very, very much, you been so good to me.<\/p>\n To my family and friends that has stuck by me, I love yawl from the bottom of my heart.<\/p>\n I am going to be face to face with Jesus now.<\/p>\n I will see all yawl when you get up there.<\/p>\n I will be dressed in wat.<\/p>\n Date of Execution: December 7, 2000 To your family, ah, I hope that this can finally bring closure.<\/p>\n I am sorry for your loss and, hey, I love all yawl.<\/p>\n Let’s go.<\/p>\n Date of Execution: May 17, 2006 Mr. Jerry Nutt, I just hope this brings some kind of peace to your family.<\/p>\n I wish I could bring them back, but I cain’t.<\/p>\n I hope my death brings peace to you all.<\/p>\n Don’t hang on to the hate.<\/p>\n Mama, I love you.<\/p>\n Lord forgive me for my sins because here I come.<\/p>\n Date of Execution: May 28, 2002 You gentlemen and ladies of quality who frequently don’t know yourselves what Christian virtue and justice are, look at the sunken, deep-set eyes of the lower classes, where you can see all too clearly the sorrow and misery that weigh on their hearts.<\/p>\n Not everyone who sees his grieved and martyred face in the washroom mirror in the morning is a murderer or drug addict.<\/p>\n On the contrary, the grounds for his misery are to be sought elsewhere.<\/p>\n You friends near and far.<\/p>\n If among you there is anyone without sin, let him come to me, and I will implore him for compassion and mercy.<\/p>\n Date of Execution: April 20, 2005 I’ve been hanging around this popsicle stand way too long.<\/p>\n Before I leave, I want to tell you all.<\/p>\n Bury me deep, lay two speakers at my feet, put headphones on my skull and rock and roll me when I’m dead.<\/p>\n I’ll see you all in hell.<\/p>\n Date of Execution: August 23, 2005 (This offender declined to make a final statement.)<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Offender: Marcus Cotton #999252
\n<\/strong>County: Cherokee
\n<\/strong>Last Statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Offender: Virgil Ravenfeather #921338
\n<\/strong>County: Navarro
\n<\/strong>Last Statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Offender: Horace Allen #987225
\n<\/strong>County: Liberty
\n<\/strong>Last Statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Offender: Octavio Guerra #978923
\n<\/strong>County: Zapata
\n<\/strong>Last Statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nOffender: Timothy Tilton #906823<\/strong>
\nCounty: Red River<\/strong>
\nLast Statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nOffender: Johnny Saginaw #999222<\/strong>
\nCounty: San Jacinto<\/strong>
\nLast Statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nOffender: Jesus Aguilar #911383<\/strong>
\nCounty: Cochise<\/strong>
\nLast Statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Offender: Dwayne-Earl Clapp #999150
\n<\/strong>County: Scurry
\n<\/strong>Last Statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nOffender: Javier Suarez #944906<\/strong>
\nCounty: Palo Pinto<\/strong>
\nLast Statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Offender: Napoleon Beazley III #999141
\n<\/strong>County: Rockwall
\n<\/strong>Last Statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nshameful mistake.<\/p>\n
\nOffender: Karla Faye Tucker #922923<\/strong>
\nCounty: Yuma<\/strong>
\nLast Statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nOffender: Claude Jones #980890<\/strong>
\nCounty: Nueces<\/strong>
\nLast Statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nOffender: Jermaine Herron #979210<\/strong>
\nCounty: Potter<\/strong>
\nLast Statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nOffender: Adolf Wolfli #999666<\/strong>
\nCounty: San Augustine<\/strong>
\nLast Statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nOffender: Troy Kunkle #954811<\/strong>
\nCounty: Angelina<\/strong>
\nLast Statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Offender: Jimmy Blackmon #924591
\n<\/strong>County: Hunt
\n<\/strong>Last Statement:<\/strong><\/p>\nHarold Jaffe is the author of 15 books of fiction and non-fiction, with recent translations in French, Turkish, and Japanese.<\/em><\/h4>\n
This story is included in issue #42: <\/em>The Artist in Wartime. Copyright \u00a9 2009 by <\/em>Fiction International. Authors of individual works retain copyright, with the restriction that subsequent publication of any text be accompanied by notice of prior publication in <\/em>Fiction International. Please contact the editor<\/a> for reprinting information.<\/em><\/h4>\n