Last meal
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History
Although the history of the tradition of giving a prisoner condemned to capital punishment a last meal is difficult to assess, most modern governments that execute prisoners subscribe to it.
The last meal is part of a condemned prisoner's last hours; a few hours before the appointed time of execution, the prisoner will be given the meal, as well as religious rites, if he/she desires.
In many countries the prisoner may have the luxury of selecting what the last meal will be (within reason), and the authorities do their best to provide a prisoner with the requested meal.
The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans all had a tradition of giving the condemned man a final meal. The Aztecs fed their human sacrifices for up to a year before their death. (See quote by Lars Bergström of Sweden at [1] (http://www.insightmag.com/news/2001/05/28/Nation/Last-Meals.Dining.In.With.Capital.Punishment-210978.shtml))
Restrictions
- In the United States of America:
- In the State of Georgia, the total cost of the last meal must be under $20 (as of 2004).
- Most states give the meal a day or two prior to execution, and use the Euphemism: "special meal".
- Most states do not allow alcohol and tobacco.
- In Texas all food must come from within the prison system.
- In the case of an unorthodox or unavailable request, the most readily available substitute will be made.
Famous last meals
- Ted Bundy: Steak (medium rare), eggs over easy, and hash browns.
- John Wayne Gacy: Fried chicken, french fries, and fresh strawberries.
- Gary Gilmore: Hamburgers, eggs, and potatoes.
- Timothy McVeigh: Two pints of mint chocolate-chip ice cream.
- Victor Feguer: A single olive.
- Oliver David Cruz: Spicy beef fajitas, beans and rice, flour tortillas, onions, tomatoes, avocados, a banana split and orange juice. (SOURCE:http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,52337,00.html)
- Juan Soria: chicken, three pieces of fish, burgers, pizza, fruit (grapes, plums, peaches, apples, tangerines), doughnuts, walnuts, chocolate candy bar, plain potato chips, picante sauce, hot sauce, salad with ranch dressing, Coke and Sprite (SOURCE:http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,52337,00.html)
- Jessy San Miguel: Pizza (beef, bacon bits, and multiple types of cheese), 10 quesadillas (5 mozzarella cheese, 5 cheddar cheese), 5 strips of open-flame grilled beef, 5 strips of stir-fried beef, chocolate peanut butter ice cream, sweet tea, double fudge chocolate cake, broccoli and grape (SOURCE:http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,52337,00.html)
Cultural impact
In the Fox animated series King of the Hill, Hank and his buddies briefly created a "last meal club" in the realization that a condemned prisoner ate better than they did.
With the advent of the internet, a number of people seemed to become interested in what the typically requested last meals were. The Texas Department of Corrections used to make available the list of the requested last meal of recent inmates, and whether or not the request was fulfilled. The list has since been terminated.
External links
- Time (http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,52337,00.html), "Why We're Fascinated by Death Row Cuisine".
- A weblog of USA prisoners executed (http://deadmaneating.blogspot.com/), and their last meals. Claims to be "compiled from various news accounts".
- Texas Department of Criminal Justice Homepage. (http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/)
- Source for some entries in the famous last meal section. (http://www.jewishworldreview.com/bob/greene061201.asp)
- article:last meals dining in with capital punishment. (http://www.insightmag.com/news/2001/05/28/Nation/Last-Meals.Dining.In.With.Capital.Punishment-210978.shtml)