American history is filled with interesting and twisted tales of some of the world’s most evil criminals. Famous murders, rapists, and other types of devious criminals have roots in the old U.S.A. These criminals spent their life’s final moments on death row waiting for their last meal and the long walk to their execution. What were the most famous executions in American history? What crimes were committed to earn a spot on death row? In what ways were these American criminals executed? This list answers those questions and more.
Execution in America has evolved over the decades. Firing squad and hangings used to be a popular method of execution, whereas lethal injection and electric chair are the most commonly used methods today. The electric chair was once such a controversial method of the death in the United States that many lawyers argued that it was cruel and unusual punishment, and by the rule of the Eighth Amendment, should be outlawed. There were even a few cases where the electric chair was faulty and needed multiple tries to execute a convict.
The criminals on this list have very different crimes and marks on the world, but their way out of the world was very similar. These men and women were all executed through the American legal system.
Famous American Criminals Who Were Executed,
Aileen Wuornos
In 1990, Aileen Wuornos made headline news when she was arrested for killing seven men that she claimed had tried to rape her. Her self-defense excuse didn't work, and she was sentenced to death by lethal injection. She was executed in 2002.
Frank Abbandando
Frank Abbandando, aka The Dasher, was a member of Murder, Inc., a gang of thugs who created chaos in New York in the 1930s. Abbandando was a contract killer for the powerful gang and was convinced his connections would lead to a not-guilty verdict. However, he was found guilty and was executed in 1942.
Gary Gilmore
Gary Gilmore had a history violent crimes throughout his life, but it was his stint robbing a gas station that led him to his end. He killed a gas station attendant and then later a motel manager while robbing them. He was caught but only charged with the first murder. While on death row, he tried to kill himself twice and was finally executed on January 17, 1977 by firing squad.
Jason Fairbanks
When Jason Fairbanks was rejected by Elizabeth Fales, he stabbed her 11 times and claimed she had committed suicide. However, one of her stab wounds was in the back, so Fairbanks was convicted and sentenced to death. Shortly before his execution, he escaped from prison and tried to make it to Canada. But he was soon caught and hanged.
John Louis Evans
John Louis Evans was just out of prison when he and his buddy went on a crime spree that consisted of 30 armed robberies, nine kidnappings, and two extortion schemes. In 1977, he killed a pawn spot owner and was caught soon after. His execution was particularly gruesome, as Alabama used a faulty electric chair, which took multiple tries to finally kill him.
John Wayne Gacy
Famous for his reputation of dressing up like a clown for fundraisers and children events, John Wayne Gacy killed and sexually assaulted 33 young men between 1972 and 1978. He was sentenced to death for 12 of his murders and spent 14 years on death row. On May 10, 1994, he was executed by lethal injection.
Manny Babbitt
Manny Babbit may have been a Marine veteran, but that didn't stop him from murdering a 78-year-old woman while robbing her home. His legal defense was that he had post traumatic stress disorder, but he was still executed on May 4th, 1999. While on death row, he earned a Purple Heart medal.
Robert Alton Harris
Robert Alton Harris killed two teenage boys in 1978 in order to steal their car and to rob a bank. He stole $2,000 from the bank but was arrested soon after. One of the arresting officers was the father of one of the murdered boys. He was executed on April 21, 1992, after misquoting Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey.
Ted Bundy
As one of the most notorious serial killers in American history, Ted Bundy horrified people by kidnapping, murdering, raping, and decapitating his at least 30 victims. His crimes were committed between 1974 and 1978. He was executed on January 24th, 1989.
Charles Campbell
Charles Campbell was sentenced to 40 years in prison after raping Renae Wicklund. He was released only five years later in 1981 for good behavior. His victim wasn't notified of the release. A year later, Renae, her neighbor who had been a witness in the trial, and Renae's 9-year-old daughter were severely beaten and murdered by Campbell. He was executed on May 27, 1994.