Harold McQueen, Jr.
Harold McQueen, Jr. (July 25, 1952 - July 1, 1997) was the first criminal executed in Kentucky after the reinstatement of capital punishment in the United States in 1976. McQueen was sentenced to death for shooting and killing an unarmed store clerk, Rebecca O'Hearn, while robbing the store in which she worked in Richmond, Kentucky on January 17, 1981.
On July 1, 1997 at 12:07 AM, McQueen was executed by electrocution at the Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville, Kentucky. In addition to being the first person executed in Kentucky since 1976, McQueen currently is also the last person executed in Kentucky's electric chair and is the only person since 1976 executed in Kentucky involuntarily. McQueen's last words, spoken to his spiritual adviser, were "I love you, Father". During his execution, smoke was seen rising from the electrodes placed on his right ankle. He was declared dead eight minutes after the execution began.
References
- Harold McQueen, Jr.
- Killer's last plea: Stay off drugs The Cincinnati Post Michael Collins Post 01-13-98
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