Kenneth Edward Gentry
Born
Kenneth Edward Gentry

(1961-01-28)January 28, 1961
DiedApril 16, 1997(1997-04-16) (aged 36)
Cause of deathExecution by lethal injection
NationalityCherokee & white American
Other namesUsed his brothers names
OccupationJack of many trades
Criminal statusExecuted
Spouse(s)Ex-wife; Lynn
ChildrenBrandi Lynn
ParentElmer & Betty
MotiveUrged by his aunt and uncle to find a new identity
Conviction(s)Capital murder
Criminal penaltyDeath (March 5, 1984)
Date apprehended
September 15, 1983

Kenneth Edward Gentry (January 28, 1961 – April 16, 1997)[1] was an American criminal who was executed on April 16, 1997, for the murder of 23-year-old Jimmy Don Ham. The crime occurred in Lewisville, Texas in 1983, technically Pilot Point. Gentry previously escaped from a Georgia prison in July 1982 and was attempting to throw authorities off by assuming Ham's identity.[2] He had been serving ten years in prison for assault before his escape.[3]

Before his execution, Gentry issued the following final statement: I'd like to thank the Lord for the past 14 years (on death row) to grow as a man and mature enough to accept what's happening here tonight. To my family, I'm happy. I'm going home to Jesus. As the lethal drugs began to flow, Gentry cried: Sweet Jesus, here I come. Take me home. I'm going that way to see the Lord.[4]

His last meal was a combination of butter beans, mashed potatoes, onions, tomatoes, biscuits, chocolate cake, and Dr. Pepper.[5]

See also

References

  1. "Death Row Information". Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
  2. "Texas Executes Killer of a Hitchhiker". 'New York Times. April 17, 1997. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  3. Orlando Sentinel article Archived September 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "HomicideSurvivors.com article". Archived from the original on 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  5. Price, Brian D. (2005). Meals to Die For. Artnik. p. 36. ISBN 1-903906-38-5. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
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