“This is it.”
In that final moment—when the room stills, the clock ticks louder, and the audience holds its breath—the condemned are given one last chance to speak. Some use it to apologize. Others, to rage against the system. And some leave behind words so surreal, they linger in the minds of witnesses long after the execution ends.
The tradition of offering death row inmates a last statement is rooted in centuries of ritual, law, and spectacle. As Jeff Kirchmeier, author of Imprisoned by the Past, explains:
“Historically, it offered the condemned a chance to repent. Today, it reveals everything from regret and defiance to complete psychological unraveling.”
Here, we revisit the haunting final words of five infamous inmates—some chilling, some poetic, some strangely beautiful. All unforgettable.
Wallace Wilkerson: “I intend to die like a man.”
Date of Execution: May 16, 1879
Method: Firing squad
Crime: Murder during a gambling dispute
Wallace Wilkerson stood unblindfolded, hands unbound, refusing even the decency of a chair. Facing his executioners in Utah, he declared:
“I give you my word. I intend to die like a man, looking my executioners right in the eye.”
But fate played a cruel trick.
The bullets missed his heart. What was meant to be instant turned into 27 minutes of agony. Wilkerson writhed on the ground, gasping:
“Oh my God! They have missed!”
He bled slowly—his final moments a gruesome cautionary tale of botched justice.
John Arthur Spenkelink: “Them without the capital get the punishment.”
Date of Execution: May 25, 1979
Method: Electric chair
Crime: Murder of a hitchhiker (alleged self-defense)
The first man executed in Florida after the death penalty was reinstated, John Spenkelink never stopped proclaiming his innocence.
In his last moment, strapped to the electric chair, he didn’t beg for mercy or claim redemption. Instead, he aimed his words straight at the system:
“Capital punishment: them without the capital get the punishment.”
His message rang louder than the voltage.
Even in death, Spenkelink became a symbol of economic injustice, sparking debates that still echo in courtrooms today.
Aileen Wuornos: “I’ll be back… like Independence Day.”
Date of Execution: October 9, 2002
Method: Lethal injection
Crime: Serial murder of seven men
By the time of her execution, Aileen Wuornos had descended into psychosis and paranoia. The woman once portrayed as a vigilante was now known for her wild outbursts and apocalyptic visions.
Her last words felt less like a goodbye and more like a message from another realm:
“I’d just like to say I’m sailing with the rock, and I’ll be back like Independence Day, with Jesus June 6. Like the movie, big mother ship and all, I’ll be back.”
It was chilling. Cryptic. And utterly unforgettable.
Some saw a madwoman. Others saw a victim of lifelong abuse and a system that failed her. But no one could deny: she died on her own terms.
Douglas Roberts: “Rock ’n’ roll me when I’m dead.”
Date of Execution: April 20, 2005
Method: Lethal injection
Crime: Drug-fueled murder and kidnapping
Unlike most condemned men, Douglas Roberts didn’t cry. He didn’t preach. He grinned.
High on confidence and riddled with regret, he delivered one of the most bizarre and theatrical exits ever recorded:
“I’ve been hanging around this popsicle stand way too long. When I die, bury me deep, lay two speakers at my feet, put some headphones on my head, and rock ‘n’ roll me when I’m dead.”
With a wink and a smile, he slipped into silence, carried out to the beat of his own final words.
Juan Martin Garcia: “I never wanted to hurt any of you.”
Date of Execution: October 6, 2015
Method: Lethal injection
Crime: Killing a missionary for $8 during a robbery
In contrast to rage or riddles, Juan Martin Garcia left this world with an apology.
Turning to the family of his victim—Pastor Hugo Solano—Garcia’s voice broke as he said:
“The harm that I did to your dad and husband… I hope this brings you closure. I never wanted to hurt any of you.”
No last-minute plea. No self-pity. Just a man confronting the weight of what he had done, and the lives he shattered for eight stolen dollars.
The Echo After Silence
Final words on death row aren’t just theatrics—they’re historical records, emotional confessions, and sometimes, psychological windows into the human soul.
“They tell us more than we want to know,” says Kirchmeier.
“They remind us that behind the crimes are still people—damaged, desperate, often beyond redemption. But people, nonetheless.”
In a world obsessed with guilt and innocence, justice and vengeance, perhaps the final words of the condemned serve as the rawest, most unfiltered truth we ever get.
They are the last human echoes before the silence takes hold.
FAQs
Why are last words recorded in executions?
They are part of the final rights granted to the condemned and often provide closure, repentance, or insight into their state of mind.
Can inmates choose not to speak?
Yes. Many choose silence. Others leave written statements instead.
Are last words ever censored?
Rarely. Most are recorded verbatim unless deemed too graphic or profane for public release.
What’s the most common theme in death row final statements?
Apologies, proclamations of innocence, and messages to loved ones are the most frequent. Some offer prayers; others go out with defiance.
Where can I read more last words from executions?
State corrections departments and public archives often keep records. Some books and documentaries, like Into the Abyss by Werner Herzog, explore them in depth.