When was the last firing squad death?

The last firing squad execution in the U.S. was Mikal Mahdi in South Carolina in April 2025, following Brad Sigmon's execution in the same state in March 2025, marking the first such U.S. executions in 15 years since Ronnie Lee Gardner in Utah in 2010. These recent South Carolina events were part of inmates choosing the firing squad over lethal injection, a method also legal in Utah, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Idaho.

What states still do Death by Firing Squad?

Yes, several U.S. states still authorize firing squad executions, including Idaho, Utah, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Oklahoma, though it's often a backup method when lethal injection is unavailable, except in Idaho where it's becoming primary; Utah has carried out recent executions by this method, with South Carolina also using it in 2025, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. 

Has anyone survived the firing squad?

Yes, at least one person, Wenceslao Moguel, famously survived being shot by a firing squad in 1915 during the Mexican Revolution, even receiving a point-blank coup de grâce to the head, and lived for decades afterward, becoming known as "El Fusilado" (The Executed One). While rare, such survival can happen if bullets miss vital organs, a phenomenon noted in other instances where individuals survived being shot, though Moguel's case is iconic due to the multiple shots and the attempted killing blow.
 

When was the last death penalty execution in the US?

The last and most recent federal execution was of Dustin Higgs, who was executed on January 16, 2021.

When was the last time a US soldier was executed for desertion?

Slovik was executed by firing squad on January 31, 1945, making him the only American soldier executed for desertion since the Civil War. His case sparked debate over military justice and the treatment of soldiers facing combat stress.

How a firing squad execution works?

What did soldiers use condoms for in WWII?

In WWII, soldiers used condoms primarily for venereal disease (VD) prevention, but also for creative field uses like waterproofing small items, protecting gun barrels from dirt/sand, holding water as emergency canteens, and even as waterproof bags for explosives by frogmen. They were part of survival kits and standard issue to combat STIs, but resourceful troops found many other practical, non-sexual applications.
 

What's the longest someone has stayed on death row?

The longest-serving death row inmate in the U.S. was Raymond Riles, who spent over 45 years on Texas's death row before being resentenced to life in prison in 2021 due to mental incompetence. Globally, Iwao Hakamada of Japan holds a significant record, spending nearly 50 years on death row before being released and granted a retrial in 2014 due to evidence suggesting his innocence, making him the world's longest-serving death row inmate before his eventual acquittal.
 

Was the guillotine painless?

The guillotine was designed to be a swift and more humane execution method, providing a death in about half a second, but whether it was truly painless is debated, with theories suggesting brief consciousness and potential agony for several seconds after decapitation, although it avoided the prolonged suffering of other methods like hanging or botched lethal injections. 

Why did Texas stop last meals?

On one occasion, the warden paid for an inmate's lobster dinner. In September 2011, Texas abolished its long-standing tradition of customized last meals after Lawrence Brewer requested a large, expensive meal and refused to eat any of it.

Who cannot be sentenced to death?

The United States Supreme Court has prohibited a sentence of death for someone who had intellectual disabilities at the time of the offense. Similarly, the Court has declared imposing a sentence of death on juveniles unconstitutional.

Why do firing squads use blanks?

Firing squads use blanks in some rifles to reduce the psychological burden on shooters, creating "plausible deniability" by making each soldier believe they might not have fired the fatal shot, a practice called the "conscience round". While the noise and recoil of blanks are different from live rounds, this uncertainty helps diffuse responsibility, allowing shooters to cope with killing someone by thinking someone else delivered the fatal blow, though some soldiers can tell the difference. 

What was Oscar Smith's last meal?

In his final statement, Smith said, "Someone needs to tell the governor the justice system doesn't work" and repeated, "I didn't kill her" before losing consciousness. For his last meal, Smith ordered hot dogs, tater tots, and apple pie with vanilla ice cream.

Has anyone survived a hanging?

Yes, people have survived hangings, both attempted judicial executions and suicidal attempts, though it's rare and often results in severe injuries, with historical examples including Anne Greene (1650) and John Lee (1885), and modern cases like Alireza M. in Iran (2013). Survival often depends on factors like proper knot placement (avoiding spinal cord damage) and prompt medical resuscitation, with many survivors suffering significant brain damage or other complications. 

Why is Texas #1 in executions?

More generally, Steiker points out that Texas, unlike many other states, has worked out the statutory and procedural ​“kinks” in death penalty cases and appeals. In particular, Texas' 1995 law expediting state appeals has successfully cut down the time between conviction and execution.

Do death row inmates get whatever they want for a last meal?

No, death row inmates don't automatically get anything they want; rules vary by state, with many imposing cost limits (like $25-$40 in Oklahoma or Florida) or restricting choices to items available in the prison kitchen, and some states, like Texas, have banned the tradition entirely after misuse. While some states allow broad requests, others limit them to regular cafeteria fare or require local purchasing, and alcohol/tobacco are usually denied. 

What state has executed the most?

The State of Texas has executed 596 people since 1982, more than any other state by far. Of these executions, 279 occurred during the administration of Texas Governor Rick Perry (2001-2014), more than any other governor in U.S. history.

What is the craziest last meal request from death row?

Weirdest death row last meals often involve huge quantities, strange combinations, or symbolic requests, like Thomas Grasso's demand for SpaghettiOs (and his outrage at getting spaghetti), Lawrence Brewer's massive, uneaten feast leading to Texas banning last meals, Victor Fuger's single olive with a pit for a tree, or John Wayne Gacy's pound of KFC fried chicken with a pound of strawberries and fries. Other oddities include single olives, specific room-temperature foods, or vast buffets that go uneaten.
 

Can you have alcohol on death row?

No, death row inmates in the U.S. are generally not allowed alcohol, as it's considered contraband, and most states deny such requests for "special last meals," opting for standard prison food instead, though some older cases and specific instances have seen exceptions, leading to stricter policies today. While historical records show allowances, current prison regulations, like Florida's, explicitly ban alcohol and tobacco for final meals, with substitutes provided if requests can't be met. 

Do death row inmates get a funeral?

Yes, death row inmates can have funerals, but it depends on state laws, family involvement, and whether the body is claimed; families can often claim the body for a private service, but if unclaimed, the state typically handles burial in a prison cemetery or cremation, sometimes with simple services. While the prison doesn't organize a formal funeral, the inmate's wishes for religious rites or body disposition (like donation to science) are often respected, and families can hold services if they claim the remains. 

Why was hair cut for guillotine?

The guillotine cut first gained popularity among subculture-ascribing women in the second half of the 1790s, taking hold after the Reign of Terror, during which 17,000 recorded executions — mostly by guillotine — took place. Beheading required that victims' hair be cut short, allowing easy access to the neck.

Why are guillotines slanted?

Guillotine blades are slanted to create a slicing, shearing motion rather than a blunt chop, making the cut more efficient, cleaner, and less likely to get stuck, by concentrating the force onto a smaller area as it moves down. This angled edge acts like a wedge or a knife, slicing through the neck more effectively and reducing resistance, a design improvement supposedly suggested by King Louis XVI himself after initial tests with curved blades failed. 

Are heads still conscious after guillotine?

Usually there is about 4 or 5 seconds of consciousness following the complete cessation of the circulation. This would be more than enough time for the severed head to fall into the basket and roll around a few times before blessed oblivion arrived.

Has anyone outlived a life sentence?

Yes, some individuals have outlived their life sentences, either through commutation, resentencing, parole, or simply by being released due to changed laws or successful appeals, though it's rare for those serving life without parole (LWOP) to leave prison unless their sentence is changed, with figures like Joseph Lian serving decades before release. Many who outlive their sentences are juveniles or those who committed crimes decades ago, with circumstances like wrongful conviction or significant rehabilitation playing roles. 

What is the cost of keeping someone on death row?

Keeping someone on death row is significantly more expensive than life in prison, costing roughly $60,000 to over $100,000 more per year due to heightened security, separate housing, more staff, and extensive legal appeals, often adding millions to the total cost of a case compared to life without parole (LWOP). While general population inmates cost around $30,000-$40,000 annually, death row inmates require specialized, costly facilities, leading to annual expenses of $100,000-$200,000+ per inmate in some states, making capital punishment the most expensive part of the justice system, notes Death Penalty Information Center. 

Why do people sit on death row so long?

People wait on death row for years, sometimes decades, primarily due to the lengthy, multi-layered appeals process designed to prevent executing innocent people, but also because of systemic issues like underfunded legal aid, court backlogs, and challenges with execution methods, making it a complex, slow process. These appeals address constitutional errors, ineffective counsel, and new evidence, ensuring thorough review before irreversible punishment.