The Final Meals of Death Row Inmates

Danny Rolling

A serial murderer, otherwise known as the Gainsville Ripper, was executed in Florida by lethal injection in 2006. His meal consisted of lobster tail, butterfly shrimp, baked potato, strawberry cheesecake and sweet tea.

Joseph Mitchell Parsons

Parsons was executed in Utah in 1999. He had a large last meal consisting of three Burger King Whoppers, two large orders of fries, a chocolate shake, chocolate chip ice cream, and a package of grape Hubba Bubba bubblegum, which he shared with his brother and a cousin. Parsons’ attorney said that he chose this meal because the Burger King slogan “Have it your way” was a reflection of him taking control of his life. Hmmm yeah, good luck with that.

John David Duty

Duty was sentenced to death for strangling a fellow inmate at Oklahoma State Penitentiary in December 2001. At the time, he had been serving a life sentence for a 1978 conviction of rape, robbery and shooting with intent to kill. His last meal was a double cheeseburger with mayonnaise, a foot-long hot dog with cheese, mustard and onions, a cherry limeade, and a banana shake.

Velma Barfield

Barfield was a serial killer with at least six victims who was executed in North Carolina in 1984. Set for lethal injection, she declined a special meal, instead eating a bag of Cheez Doodles and drinking a 350ml can of Coca-Cola during her last hours.

Dobie Gillis Williams

Williams was a convicted murderer who was executed by the State of Louisiana for the murder of Sonja Knippers in 1999. Williams ate twelve chocolate bars and some ice cream for his last meal. In his final statement, Williams said, “I just want to say, I don’t have any hard feelings against anybody. God bless ya’ll. God bless.” How very condescending of a murderer indeed!

Gary Carl Simmons Jr

Executed in Mississippi by lethal injection in 2012 for a 1996 murder charge, this request really takes the first place prize for waste of money, especially when you think about the poverty stricken people not only of the U.S but the world. Simmons ordered one Pizza Hut medium Super Supreme Deep Dish pizza with double portions of mushrooms, onions, jalapeño peppers, and pepperoni, a second pizza with three cheeses, olives, bell pepper, tomato, garlic, and Italian sausage, ten 200gm packs of Parmesan cheese, ten 200gm packs of ranch dressing, one family size bag of Doritos nacho cheese flavor, 100gms of sliced jalapeños, 2 large strawberry shakes, two 600ml cherry Cokes, one super-size order of McDonald’s fries with extra ketchup and mayonnaise, and a litre of strawberry ice cream.

He consumed about half of the meal.

What’s your hypothetical death row meal?