List of people executed in Kansas

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This is a list of people executed in Kansas.

No one has been executed by the state of Kansas since 1965, although capital punishment is legal there. Historically, 58 people have been executed in the area now occupied by the state. Many of these were federal executions of soldiers and POWs, often at the United States Disciplinary Barracks in Leavenworth. Fourteen German POWs were executed at Leavenworth in 1945.

Contents

The last executions in Kansas were at the Kansas State Penitentiary, when spree killers James Latham and George York were executed for murder in 1965. Except for John Coon, executed in 1853 by firing squad, all federal and state executions in Kansas have been by hanging.

List of people executed in Kansas

NameRaceAgeDate of executionCountyCrimeVictim(s)Governor
Ernest L. HoefgenWhite32March 10, 1944 Marion MurderBruce Smoll, 18, white [1] [a] Andrew Frank Schoeppel
Fred L. BradyWhite46April 15, 1944 Cowley Murder-RobberyJoe Williams, black [2]
Clark B. KnoxBlack26 Wyandotte MurderEdward F. Nugent, white (patrolman) [3]
Cecil TateWhite21July 29, 1947 Kingman Murder-RobberyArnold McClelland, 36, white [4] [b] Frank Carlson
George F. GumtowWhite23
George MillerBlack60May 6, 1950 Miami MurderMike Churchill, 48, white (police chief) [5]
Preston McBrideWhite25April 6, 1951 Reno MurderJohn Watkins, white [6] Edward F. Arn
James Lammers White26January 5, 1952 Doniphan MurderFour people, white [7] [c]
Nathaniel GermanyBlack30May 21, 1954 Wyandotte MurderDavid Gray, white [8]
Merle William MartinWhite45July 16, 1954 Johnson MurderWillard Carver, white (deputy sheriff) [9]
Lowell Lee Andrews White22November 30, 1962 Wyandotte MurderThree people, white [10] [d] John Anderson Jr.
Richard E. Hickock White31April 14, 1965 Finney Murder-Robbery Clutter family (four people), white [11]
Perry Edward Smith White28
George Ronald York White23June 22, 1965 Russell Murder-RobberyOtto Zeigler, 69, white [12] [e]
James Douglas Latham White23

Note: This list only contains non-military executions at the Kansas State Penitentiary. [13] [14]

Notes
  1. Also murdered George Richet in Texas and sentenced to life. Heofgen killed Smoll after escaping prison there.
  2. Also killed McClelland's father.
  3. Wife Geneva Orr (23) and children Lora Mae (3), Melba (2), and LaVerne (11 months).
  4. Father William (50), mother Opal (41), and sister Jennie (20).
  5. Committed numerous other murders in Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, Illinois, and Colorado.


See also

References

  1. Summary of the execution of Ernest Hoefgen
  2. Summary of the execution of Fred Brady
  3. Documentation for the execution of Clark Knox
  4. Summary of the execution of George Gumtow, Cecil Tate
  5. Documentation for the execution of George Miller
  6. Summary of the execution of Preston McBride
  7. Summary of the execution of James Lammers
  8. "Decision Is Delayed". Lawrence Journal-World . January 10, 1953. p. 5. Retrieved June 20, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. Summary of the execution of Merle Martin
  10. Summary of the execution of Lowell Andrews
  11. Summary of the execution of Perry Smith, Richard Hickock
  12. Summary of the execution of George York, James Latham
  13. Senate, United States Congress (1968). Hearings. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  14. "Executions in Kansas - 1853-1965 - DeathPenaltyUSA, the database of executions in the United States". deathpenaltyusa.org. Retrieved June 20, 2025.