Kenneth Edward Gentry
Kenneth Edward Gentry was an American criminal who was executed on April 16, 1997 for the murder of 23-year-old Jimmy Don Ham. The crime took place 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.[1] He had been serving 10 years in prison for assault before his escape.[2]
Kenneth Edward Gentry | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kenneth Edward Gentry January 28, 1961 Georgia |
| Died | April 16, 1997 (aged 36) |
| Cause of death | Execution by lethal injection |
| Nationality | Cherokee & white American |
| Other names | Used his brothers names |
| Occupation | Jack of many trades |
| Criminal status | Executed |
| Spouse(s) | Ex-wife; Lynn |
| Children | Brandi Lynn |
| Parent(s) | Elmer & Betty |
| Motive | Urged by his aunt and uncle to find a new identity |
| Conviction(s) | Capital murder |
| Criminal penalty | Death (March 5, 1984) |
Date apprehended | September 15, 1983 |
Prior to 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 out: Sweet Jesus, here I come. Take me home. I'm going that way to see the Lord.[3]
His last meal was a combination of butter beans, mashed potatoes, onions, tomatoes, biscuits, chocolate cake and Dr. Pepper.[4]
References
- "Texas Executes Killer of a Hitchhiker". 'New York Times. April 17, 1997. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
- Orlando Sentinel article Archived September 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- "HomicideSurvivors.com article". Archived from the original on 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
- Price, Brian D. (2005). Meals to Die For. Artnik. p. 36. ISBN 1-903906-38-5. Retrieved October 15, 2010.