The Chilling Last Words and Last Meals of Notorious Serial Killers
There is a macabre fascination with the final hours of those condemned to death. The idea of a person who has committed unimaginable crimes sitting down for a last meal or uttering their final words before meeting their end grips both horror enthusiasts and true crime followers.
Here we explore the chilling last moments of some of the most infamous serial killers, focusing on their final meals, last words, locations of execution, methods of execution, and the reasons they were sentenced to death.
Ted Bundy (Executed 1989, Florida)
Crimes: Bundy was responsible for the brutal murders of over 30 young women during the 1970s, although the true number of his victims remains unknown. His charm and intelligence allowed him to evade capture for years.
Last Meal: Surprisingly, Bundy refused a special last meal and was instead served the standard prison fare: steak, eggs, hash browns, toast with butter and jam, milk, and juice.
Last Words: “I’d like you to give my love to my family and friends.”
Location and Method: He was executed in the electric chair, known as “Old Sparky,” at Florida State Prison in Raiford, Florida.
John Wayne Gacy (Executed 1994, Illinois)
Crimes: Gacy, also known as “The Killer Clown,” raped and murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men. He would often dress as a clown for local events, which later gave him his terrifying nickname.
Last Meal: Gacy requested 12 fried shrimp, a bucket of original recipe KFC chicken, French fries, and a pound of strawberries.
Last Words: “Kiss my ass.”
Location and Method: Gacy was executed by lethal injection at Stateville Correctional Center, Illinois.
Aileen Wuornos (Executed 2002, Florida)
Crimes: Aileen Wuornos murdered seven men between 1989 and 1990 in Florida. She claimed the killings were in self-defence against men who tried to assault her while she was working as a sex worker.
Last Meal: Wuornos refused a special last meal and instead had a single cup of coffee.
Last Words: “Yes, I would just like to say I’m sailing with the rock, and I’ll be back, like Independence Day with Jesus.”
Location and Method: Wuornos was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison.
Timothy McVeigh (Executed 2001, Indiana)
Crimes: Though technically not a serial killer, McVeigh is worth mentioning. He was responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, which killed 168 people.
Last Meal: Two pints of mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Last Words: McVeigh chose not to speak. Instead, he left a handwritten copy of the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley.
Location and Method: McVeigh was executed by lethal injection at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Ricky Ray Rector (Executed 1992, Arkansas)
Crimes: Rector murdered a man during a nightclub altercation and later killed a police officer. His case stirred controversy because of his diminished mental state following a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Last Meal: Fried chicken, steak, and pecan pie. He famously left the pecan pie “for later,” fully aware he would never return to it.
Last Words: “I have no love for anyone that has any part in this lynching.”
Location and Method: Rector was executed by lethal injection at Cummins Unit in Arkansas.
Gary Gilmore (Executed 1977, Utah)
Crimes: Gilmore gained notoriety for demanding his own execution after murdering two men in Utah. His case revived the death penalty in the United States.
Last Meal: A hamburger, hard-boiled eggs, baked potato, and coffee.
Last Words: “Let’s do it.” (This phrase inspired Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan years later.)
Location and Method: Gilmore was executed by firing squad at Utah State Prison.
Peter Kurten, “The Vampire of Düsseldorf” (Executed 1931, Germany)
Crimes: Kurten, one of Germany’s most infamous serial killers, was convicted of murdering at least nine people and attacking many more.
Last Meal: Wiener schnitzel, fried potatoes, and a bottle of white wine. He requested seconds of everything.
Last Words: Before the guillotine fell, he asked, “Tell me – after my head has been chopped off, will I still be able to hear, at least for a moment, the sound of my own blood gushing from the stump of my neck?”
Location and Method: Kurten was executed by guillotine in Cologne, Germany.
Carl Panzram (Executed 1930, Kansas)
Crimes: Panzram confessed to killing 21 people and committing over 1,000 acts of sexual violence. His life was filled with violence and hatred, and he welcomed death.
Last Meal: He refused a special last meal.
Last Words: “Hurry it up, you Hoosier bastard. I could hang a dozen men while you’re screwing around.”
Location and Method: He was hanged at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas.
Strangest Last Meal Requests of All Time
While some killers opt for traditional comfort foods, others have chosen bizarre or symbolic meals:
Victor Feguer (Executed 1963, Iowa): His last meal was a single olive with the pit still inside, said to symbolise peace and rebirth.
Lawrence Russell Brewer (Executed 2011, Texas): Brewer ordered an absurdly large feast – two chicken-fried steaks, a triple-meat bacon cheeseburger, fried okra, a pound of barbecue meat, three fajitas, a meat-lover’s pizza, a pint of ice cream, and peanut butter fudge – but refused to eat any of it.
Odell Barnes Jr. (Executed 2000, Texas): He requested “justice, equality, and world peace” instead of food.
Philip Workman (Executed 2007, Tennessee): He declined a personal meal but requested a large vegetarian pizza be delivered to a homeless person. The prison refused, but supporters honoured his request afterward.
These strange and sometimes poignant requests add another layer of humanity, or defiance, to the final moments of those who committed the darkest of crimes.
Why Are We So Fascinated?
The rituals surrounding executions – especially the last meal and final words – capture our imagination because they bring a human element to the inhuman acts of these criminals. Horror fans and true crime enthusiasts are particularly drawn to these details, as they provide a haunting contrast between the mundane act of eating and the violent pasts of those about to die.
From Bundy’s silent stoicism to Gacy’s defiance and Kurten’s morbid curiosity about his own death, these final moments remind us of the dark extremes of human nature.
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