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Topics: Crime, True Crime, US News, Ted Bundy
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Crime, True Crime, US News, Ted Bundy
Prior to their execution, death row inmates - all of whom have been convicted of the grisliest, most heinous crimes known to man - are asked if they have any final words.
Whilst many killers have used the opportunity as a means of apologising to the families of their grieving victims, others have been known to issue nonsensical statements or eerie sentiments, seemingly alluding to their warped mindset.
Despite an ongoing societal debate with regards to the ethics of capital punishment, the somewhat medieval practice is still in place in 23 of America's 50 states today, and it's a source of fascination to millions of true crime fans around the world.
Some of history's most notorious serial killers took their last breath on death row - including the likes of Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy ('the killer clown'), and Aileen Wuornos.
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Faced with death, multiple-murderer, rapist, and necrophiliac Bundy told witnesses to his 1989 execution: "I'd like you to give my love to my family and friends." Gacy, meanwhile, uttered, 'Kiss my ass' before receiving a lethal injection.
Prior to her death, Wuornos - often considered America's most notorious female serial killer - threatened her return, telling attendees: "I'd just like to say, I'm sailing with the rock, and I'll be back, like Independence Day, with Jesus, June 6th.
"Like the movie, big mothership and all. I'll be back."
Despite not every individual executed by the US federal govenment being as famous - or, should we say, as infamous - as the villainous trio, there are still records of even eerier final words having being said in the death chamber...
French became the final Oklahoma resident to face the death penalty in 1966.
Five years earlier, he'd brutally murdered his prison cellmate Eddie Lee Shenton by strangling him to death using a pair of shoelaces. At the time, French was already serving life behind bars for the 1958 murder of motorist Frank Boon, who'd offered to give him a ride that fateful day.
After begging for the electric chair, French is said to have made an unexpected, disturbing joke just minutes before his death.
According to the Mail, he jibed of his unique surname: "How about this for a headline for tomorrow's paper? French fries."
California killer Robert Alton Harris was put to death in San Quentin State Prison's in 1992, having been found guilty of abducting and murdering two teenage boys, John Mayeski and Michael Bake, 14 years earlier with the help of his younger brother.
Having already had a history of car thefts and bank robberies, he was sentenced to death via gas chamber - a somewhat rare form of punishment in the 'Golden State' - despite his brother Daniel only serving six years behind bars.
Prior to his execution, Harris is said to have uttered a chilling rhyme: "You can be a king or a street sweeper, but everyone dances with the Grim Reaper."
In 1995, New York double-murderer Thomas J. Grasso was executed via lethal injection.
Five years earlier, he'd strangled 87-year-old Hilda Johnson - the neighbour of his own grandmother - at her home using her own string of Christmas tree lights before stealing some cash and her television. After getting away with his first crime, he murdered 81-year-old Leslie Holtz the following year before stealing a cheque from her home.
Following his arrest for the latter killing, he confessed to Johnson's murder and was sentenced to death.
Prior to his execution, the convict requested a very specific final meal, asking prison officers for a can of Franco-American Spaghetti-O's with meatballs, served at room temperature, along with steamed mussels, a Burger King double cheeseburger, a strawberry milkshake, pumpkin pie, and a whole mango.
Unfortunately for Grasso, however, a mix-up meant that he received plain old spaghetti, as opposed to his specifically-requested tin.
And even moments before his death, he seemingly couldn't forgive the blunder, telling attendees: "I did not get my Spaghetti-O's, I got spaghetti. I want the press to know this."
Arguably the eeriest final statement was uttered by South Carolina local Freddie Owens in September of last year.
Owens murdered convenience store clerk Irene Grainger Graves in 1997 during a botched robbery when he was just 19 years old.
After pleading guilty, he was sentenced to death in 1999 - the same year he also murdered fellow prisoner Christopher Lee.
Prior to his execution via lethal injection, Owens refused to give an official final statement, only saying the single word, 'Bye', to his attorney.