This Week in 2012
“Yes, I want to tell everybody that I love everybody. Keep your heads up. We are all family, people of God Almighty. We’re all good. I’m ready.Are they already doing it? I’m gonna go to sleep. See you later. This stuff stings, man almighty.”
– Rodrigo Hernandez, convicted of abduction, rape, and murder, lethal injection, Texas. Executed January 26, 2012.
Hernandez abducted Susan Verstegen from a grocery store parking lot as she was making deliveries to a stocking shed. He sexually assaulted and strangled her, ultimately disposing her body in a garbage can near a church. DNA evidence led to Hernandez’s identification of Verstegen murder and an earlier murder and sexual assault of Muriel Stoepker, a 77-year-old homeless woman.
This week in 1879
“I have nothing at all to say. I will die like a Game Man. That is all I have to say.”
— Martin Bergin, convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, hanging, Pennsylvania.
Executed January 16, 1879
Prior to his execution, Bergin spent time with his wife and time in prayer, including a two-hour mass. After a final meal of bread, butter, eggs, and coffee, Bergin prayed some more before two priests escorted him by candlelight to receive his punishment. Bergin had killed a coal mine clerk in a murder-for-hire scheme to protect another man’s secret.
This week in 2003
“Their death should not have happened, but it did. I’m so sorry that all of this took place. Now I have devastated my family as well, but my heart has grown in the last few minutes because I was forgiven by the family of Mr. and Mrs. Kenney, and Ms. Arnot. Thank you. You have given me more hope than I have had in a long time. If I could change things I would, not for my sake but for all those who have loved me over the years, and for those who have forgiven me. Thank you for all that you have given me.”
— Samuel Gallamore, convicted of murder, lethal injection, Texas.
Executed January 14, 2003
Gallamore was convicted of beating and stabbing Clayton Kenney (eighty-three), his partially paralyzed wife, Juliana (seventy-four), and her daughter, Adrienne Arnot (forty-four). Gallamore had once cared for Juliana in a nursing home. He confessed to police, saying that he and an accomplice had robbed the Kenney family in order to buy drugs. Refusing to say any last words, Gallamore had his written statement distributed after his execution.
