List of people executed in the United States in 1997

Last updated

Seventy-four people, all male, were executed in the United States in 1997, sixty-eight by lethal injection, and six by electrocution. Maryland carried out its first involuntary execution since the early 1960s. [1] Colorado conducted its last execution that same year before the state officially abolished capital punishment in 2020. [2] Oregon conducted its last execution that same year before the state suspended the use of capital punishment, with then Governor Kate Brown commuting the death sentences of 17 inmates to life without parole and thus emptying the state's death row before the end of her term in 2022. [3]

Contents

List of people executed in the United States in 1997

No.Date of executionNameAge of personGenderEthnicityStateMethodRef.
At executionAt offenseAge difference
1January 8, 1997 Earl Van Denton 472819MaleWhite Arkansas Lethal injection [4]
2 Paul Ruiz 492920Hispanic [4]
3Kirt Douglas Wainwright30228Black [5]
4January 10, 1997 Billy Wayne Waldrop 443014White Alabama Electrocution [6]
5January 23, 1997 Randall Greenawalt 472918 Arizona Lethal injection [7]
6January 29, 1997Eric Adam Schneider352312 Missouri [8]
7February 6, 1997 Michael Carl George 39336 Virginia [9]
8February 10, 1997Richard Lewis Brimage Jr.413110 Texas [10]
9February 26, 1997Coleman Wayne Gray382711BlackVirginia [11]
10March 12, 1997John Kennedy Barefield322210Texas [12]
11March 25, 1997 Pedro Luis Medina 392415Hispanic Florida Electrocution [13]
12April 2, 1997David Lee Herman327WhiteTexasLethal injection [14]
13April 3, 1997 David Wayne Spence 402515 [15]
14April 14, 1997Billy Joe Woods502822 [16]
15April 16, 1997Kenneth Edward Gentry362214 [17]
16April 21, 1997Benjamin Herbert Boyle534211 [18]
17April 24, 1997 John Ashley Brown Jr. 352312 Louisiana [19]
18April 29, 1997Ernest Orville Baldree554411Texas [20]
19May 2, 1997 Walter Hill 624121BlackAlabamaElectrocution [21]
20May 6, 1997Terry Washington332310TexasLethal injection [22]
21May 8, 1997 Scott Dawn Carpenter 22193White Oklahoma [23]
22May 13, 1997Anthony Ray Westley362313BlackTexas [24]
23May 16, 1997 Harry Charles Moore 56515White Oregon [25]
24Clifton Eugene Belyeu382711Texas [26]
25May 19, 1997Richard Gerry Drinkard3928 [27]
26May 20, 1997Clarence Allen Lackey422220 [28]
27May 21, 1997 Bruce Edwin Callins 372017Black [29]
28May 22, 1997Larry Wayne White472621White [30]
29May 28, 1997Robert Anthony Madden332211 [31]
30June 2, 1997Patrick Fitzgerald Rogers2112Black [32]
31June 3, 1997Kenneth Bernard Harris342311 [33]
32June 4, 1997Dorsie Lee Johnson Jr.3019 [34]
33Davis Losada3213Hispanic [35]
34June 6, 1997 Henry Francis Hays 422616WhiteAlabamaElectrocution [36]
35June 11, 1997Earl Russell Behringer332211TexasLethal injection [37]
36June 13, 1997Michael Eugene Elkins41356 South Carolina [38]
37June 16, 1997David Wayne Stoker382711Texas [39]
38June 17, 1997Eddie James Johnson44359Black [40]
39June 18, 1997Irineo Tristan Montoya301812Hispanic [41]
40June 25, 1997William Lyle Woratzeck513417WhiteArizona [42]
41July 1, 1997 Harold I. McQueen Jr. 4427 Kentucky Electrocution [43]
42July 2, 1997 Flint Gregory Hunt 382612Black Maryland Lethal injection [44]
43July 17, 1997Roy Bruce Smith50419WhiteVirginia [45]
44July 23, 1997Joseph Roger O'Dell III5413 [46]
45July 29, 1997Robert Wallace West Jr.352015Native AmericanTexas [47]
46August 6, 1997Ralph Cecil Feltrop423210WhiteMissouri [48]
47Eugene Wallace Perry533617Arkansas [49]
48August 13, 1997Donald Edward Reese544311Missouri [50]
49August 19, 1997Carlton Jerome Pope352312BlackVirginia [51]
50August 20, 1997 Andrew Wessel Six 322111WhiteMissouri [52]
51September 9, 1997James Carl Lee Davis3413BlackTexas [53]
52September 17, 1997Mario Benjamin Murphy25196HispanicVirginia [54]
53September 22, 1997Jessel Turner372512BlackTexas [55]
54September 24, 1997Samuel Lee McDonald Jr.483216Missouri [56]
55September 25, 1997Benjamin C. Stone45432WhiteTexas [57]
56September 30, 1997John William Cockrum382711 [58]
57October 1, 1997Dwight Dwayne Adanandus413110Black [59]
58October 8, 1997 Ricky Lee Green 362412White [60]
59October 13, 1997 Gary Lee Davis 5341 Colorado [61]
60October 22, 1997Alan Jeffrey Bannister392415Missouri [62]
61October 28, 1997 Kenneth Ray Ransom 342014BlackTexas [63]
62November 4, 1997Aua Lauti433112Pacific Islander [64]
63November 6, 1997Aaron Lee Fuller30219White [65]
64November 7, 1997Earl Matthews Jr.321913BlackSouth Carolina [66]
65November 13, 1997 Dawud Majid Mu'Min 44359Virginia [67]
66November 19, 1997Walter Stewart412318 Illinois [68]
67Durlyn Eddmonds452520 [69]
68 Michael Eugene Sharp 432815WhiteTexas [70]
69November 20, 1997Gary Burris402317Black Indiana [71]
70November 21, 1997Charlie Livingston352114Texas [72]
71December 2, 1997 Robert Edward Williams 614021 Nebraska Electrocution [73]
72December 9, 1997 Michael Lee Lockhart 372710WhiteTexasLethal injection [74]
73Michael Charles Satcher29218BlackVirginia [75]
74December 11, 1997Thomas Howard Beavers Jr.2618White [76]
Average:40 years28 years13 years

Demographics

Gender
Male74
Female0
Ethnicity
White41
Black26
Hispanic5
Native American1
Pacific Islander1
State
Texas 37
Virginia 9
Missouri 6
Arkansas 4
Alabama 3
Arizona 2
Illinois 2
South Carolina 2
Colorado 1
Florida 1
Indiana 1
Kentucky 1
Louisiana 1
Maryland 1
Nebraska 1
Oklahoma 1
Oregon 1
Method
Lethal injection 68
Electrocution 6
Month
January6
February3
March2
April7
May11
June11
July5
August5
September6
October5
November9
December4
Age
20–294
30–3936
40–4922
50–5910
60–692
Total74100%

Executions in recent years

Number of executions
1998 68
199774
1996 45
Total187

References

  1. "Execution List 1997". Death Penalty Information Center . Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  2. "Colorado abolishes the death penalty". NBC News . March 23, 2020.
  3. "Oregon governor commutes sentences of everyone on death row in state". The Guardian . December 13, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Natural State History: Duo executed in 1997 for killing marshal, park ranger". KNWA. May 12, 2015.
  5. "ARKANSAS EXECUTES 3 KILLERS IN 1 NIGHT". Associated Press. January 9, 1997.
  6. "Billy Wayne Waldrop Executed by Electric Chair". Democracy Now!. January 10, 1997.
  7. "Arizona Inmate Is Executed for 4 Killings". The New York Times. January 24, 1997.
  8. "MISSOURIAN BLOWS KISSES BEFORE HIS EXECUTION". Deseret News. January 29, 1997.
  9. "VIRGINIA EXECUTES MAN WHO TORTURED, KILLED TEEN". Orlando Sentinel. February 7, 1997.
  10. "Rapist and Murderer Is Executed in Texas". The New York Times. February 11, 1997.
  11. "COLEMAN GRAY PUT TO DEATH BY INJECTION". The Virginian-Pilot. February 27, 1997.
  12. "Texas Executes Killer Of College Student". The New York Times. March 14, 1997.
  13. "FLAMES SHOOT FROM CONVICT AT EXECUTION". The Washington Post. March 25, 1997.
  14. "Texas Executes Killer Who Tried Suicide". The New York Times. April 3, 1997.
  15. "Texas Executes Man In Killing of Youths". The New York Times. April 4, 1997.
  16. "After 21-Year Wait, Texas Executes Man". The New York Times. April 15, 1997.
  17. "Execution List 1997". Death Penalty Information Center . Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  18. "This Little-Known Serial Killer Was Busted in Amarillo". Kiss FM 96.9. August 18, 2022.
  19. "Aerospace engineer's killer is put to death by injection". Deseret News. April 24, 1997.
  20. "Inmate executed for killing couple who tried to help him". Deseret News. April 30, 1997.
  21. "Five-time killer executed for triple slaying in 1977". The Selma Times-Journal. May 4, 1997.
  22. "Retarded Man Executed For Manager's Murder". The New York Times. May 7, 1997.
  23. "Scott Dawn Carpenter, 22, Executed in Oklahoma". Democracy Now!. May 8, 1997.
  24. "Execution List 1997". Death Penalty Information Center . Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  25. "Oregon Executes a Killer". The New York Times. May 17, 1997.
  26. "Texas Executes Inmate For a 1985 Murder". The New York Times. May 18, 1997.
  27. "As Texas Executions Mount, They Grow Routine". The New York Times. May 25, 1997.
  28. "TEXAS EXECUTES SECOND INMATE THIS WEEK". The Washington Post. May 21, 1997.
  29. "Execution List 1997". Death Penalty Information Center . Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  30. "UPI Focus: Texas executes fourth in as many days". UPI. May 22, 1997.
  31. "Execution List 1997". Death Penalty Information Center . Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  32. "Texas Executes Killer, Plans a Record 11 for Month". Los Angeles Times. June 3, 1997.
  33. "Rapist-strangler expresses sorrow, then is executed". Deseret News. June 4, 1997.
  34. "Two More Executions Tie Record for Texas". Los Angeles Times. June 5, 1997.
  35. "UPI Focus: Texas completes double execution". UPI. June 4, 1997.
  36. "Klan Member Put to Death In Race Death". The New York Times. June 6, 1997.
  37. "TEXAS EXECUTES KILLER OF PAIR ON LOVERS LANE". Chicago Tribune. June 12, 1997.
  38. "South Carolina to execute 12th inmate". UPI. June 12, 1997.
  39. "Texas Executes Inmate In Murder of Store Clerk". The New York Times. June 17, 1997.
  40. "Inmate Is Executed For a Triple Murder". The New York Times. June 18, 1997.
  41. "Mexico Reacts Bitterly to Execution of One of Its Citizens in Texas". The New York Times. June 20, 1997.
  42. "Man executed for strangling mentally impaired woman". Deseret News. June 25, 1997.
  43. "Ky. inmate executed". UPI. July 1, 1997.
  44. "PRISONER WHO KILLED BALTIMORE OFFICER IS EXECUTED". The Washington Post. July 3, 1997.
  45. "VIRGINIA EXECUTES KILLER OF MANASSAS POLICE OFFICER". The Washington Post. July 17, 1997.
  46. "Convicted Killer O'Dell Is Married, Then Executed". Los Angeles Times. July 24, 1997.
  47. "Execution List 1997". Death Penalty Information Center . Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  48. "Missouri Executes Killer Who Cut Up a Woman". The New York Times. August 7, 1997.
  49. "Execution List 1997". Death Penalty Information Center . Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  50. "Condemned Man's Last Hours Crawl in Cycles of Hope, Despair". Los Angeles Times. October 5, 1997.
  51. "Virginia Executes Man Who Killed and Robbed". The New York Times. August 20, 1997.
  52. "Witness to an Execution Finds Retribution but Little Relief". Los Angeles Times. October 26, 1997.
  53. "Execution List 1997". Death Penalty Information Center . Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  54. "Mexican Murderer Gets Lethal Injection". Los Angeles Times. September 18, 1997.
  55. "Cabbie's killer apologizes before execution in Texas". Deseret News. September 23, 1997.
  56. "My friend's execution". The Christian Century. November 11, 1998.
  57. "Texas executes 28th person this year". UPI. September 25, 1997.
  58. "Texas woman's killer gets his wish: lethal injection". Deseret News. October 1, 1997.
  59. "Execution List 1997". Death Penalty Information Center . Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  60. "National News Briefs; Convicted Serial Killer Is Executed in Texas". The New York Times. October 9, 1997.
  61. "In 1997, Colorado's first execution in 30 years marked a watershed moment. But did it change the conversation about capital punishment?". The Colorado Sun. March 4, 2019.
  62. "Missouri inmate, subject of documentary, is executed". Deseret News. October 22, 1997.
  63. "Mother collapses, screams as Texas executes her son". Deseret News. October 29, 1997.
  64. "Man Executed for Murdering Cousin". Los Angeles Times. November 5, 1997.
  65. "Man Is Executed for '89 Robbery-Murder". Los Angeles Times. November 7, 1997.
  66. "Execution List 1997". Death Penalty Information Center . Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  67. "MAN EXECUTED BY VIRGINIA FOR 1988 DALE CITY SLAYING". The Washington Post. November 14, 1997.
  68. "2 killers are put to death on the same night in Illinois". Deseret News. November 19, 1997.
  69. "2 killers are put to death on the same night in Illinois". Deseret News. November 19, 1997.
  70. "A convicted killer's last words". ZDNet. November 20, 1997.
  71. "Execution List 1997". Death Penalty Information Center . Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  72. "UPI Focus: Texas executes 36th inmate of year". UPI. November 21, 1997.
  73. "Williams marks state's third electrocution". The Daily Nebraskan. June 16, 2006.
  74. "30 years ago: The serial killer trial that shocked San Antonio". mySA. March 22, 2018.
  75. "Virginia Executed Bike Path Killer". The Washington Post. December 10, 1997.
  76. Barisic, Sonja (December 12, 1997). "Virginia executes man who raped, killed widow". The News Virginian . p. 15. Retrieved June 9, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
Preceded by
1996
   List of people executed   
   in the United States in   
1997
Succeeded by
1998