If you had to choose your last meal, what would you choose? The death penalty has been abolished in several countries, but in some states in the United States, it’s still legal. For those on death row, a last meal is offered before they’re executed. Here are 30 of the last meals these famous death row inmates requested.
Stephen Wayne Anderson
He was executed by lethal injection after being convicted of murder in 2002. He asked for two grilled cheese sandwiches, one pint of cottage cheese, a hominy-corn mixture, radishes, one peach pie slice, and one chocolate chip ice cream pint.
Ronald Clark O’Bryan
A murderer who was executed by lethal injection in 1984 asked for a T-bone steak, French fries with ketchup, whole kernel corn, sweet peas, a lettuce and tomato salad with sliced egg and French dressing, iced tea, sweetener, saltines, Boston cream pie, and rolls.
Gerald Lee Mitchell
Before being executed by lethal injection in 2001 after being convicted of murder, the 17-year-old asked for an assorted bag of Jolly Ranchers hard candies.
Thomas Knight
In 2014, he was executed by lethal injection after being convicted of murder. He asked for sweet potato pie, coconut cake, banana nut bread, a quarter bottle of Sprite, two tablespoons of strawberries, butter-pecan ice cream, vanilla ice cream, and Fritos as his last meal.
Loran Kenstley Cole
In 2024, he was executed by lethal injection after committing murder. His last meal consisted of pizza, M&M’s, ice cream, and a soda. He also shared it with his son and a pen pal from outside prison.
Aileen Wournos
A serial murderer who killed six people was executed by lethal injection in 2002. She declined a special last meal but had a cup of coffee, a hamburger, and other snacks from the prison’s canteen.
Demetrius Terrence Frazier
He was executed by nitrogen hypoxia in 2025 after being convicted of murder. He picked a beefy five-layer burrito, a chicken chalupa supreme, beef crunchy tacos, chip and dip, and a Mountain Dew, all from Taco Bell.
Gary Carl Simmons Jr.
He was charged with murder and executed in 2012. He asked for two Pizza Hut Supreme Deep Dish pizzas, 2kg of parmesan cheese and 10 cups of ranch dressing, 230g of jalapeño nacho cheese, 100g of sliced jalapeños,1.2L of Cherry Coke, 2 large strawberry shakes, a litre of strawberry ice cream, and one family sized bag of Doritos.
Thomas Martin Thompson
He was a murderer who was executed by lethal injection in 1998, and his last meal consisted of Alaskan king crab with melted butter, spinach salad, pork fried rice, Mandarin-style spare ribs, a hot fudge sundae, and a six-pack of Coca-Cola.
Timothy McVeigh
Timothy was convicted of domestic terrorism and mass murder. He was executed by lethal injection in 2001. His last meal consisted of two pints of mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Marion Bowman Jr.
In 2025, he died by lethal injection after being convicted of murder. His last meal consisted of chicken rings, chicken tenders, fried shrimp, fish, oysters, onion rings, banana pudding, German chocolate cake, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice.
Kelly Marie Gissendaner
She was convicted of murder and executed by lethal injection in 2015. She requested cheese dip with chips, Texas nachos with fajita meat, and a diet frosted lemonade as her last meal.
Fritz Haarmann
Also known as the Butcher of Hanover, he was executed by guillotine in 1925. He was granted an expensive cigar and a cup of Brazilian coffee.
Thomas Joseph Grasso
He was executed in 1995 for the murder of two elderly people. He requested 24 steamed mussels, 24 steamed clams, a Burger King double cheeseburger, six barbecue spare ribs, two strawberry milkshakes, some pumpkin pie with whipped cream and diced strawberries, and a can of Spaghetti-O’s with meatballs, served at room temperature.
Allen Lee Davis
He was executed by electrocution in 1999 after being convicted of murder. His last meal was one lobster tail, fried potatoes, a half-pound of fried shrimp, six ounces of fried clams, half a loaf of garlic bread, and 32 ounces of A&W root beer.
Robert Anthony Buell
After committing murder, he was executed by lethal injection in 2002. He asked for one single unpitted black olive.
Dobie Gillis Williams
He was convicted of murder, and after a federal judge overturned his case, he was still executed by lethal injection in 1999 because the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals claimed the information was given too late into the trial. His final meal was 12 chocolate bars and some ice cream.
Burton Abbott
He was a murderer and rapist who was executed in 1957 by gas chamber. His requested last meal consisted of French-fried butterfly jumbo prawns with cocktail sauce, one order of ravioli, tossed green salad with vinegar and oil dressing, chocolate cake, and a pack of Salem cigarettes.
Gerald James Borderlon
A murderer executed by lethal injection in 2010 requested a fried sac-a-lait fish topped with crawfish étouffée, a peanut butter and apple jelly sandwich, and chocolate chip cookies.
Joseph Mitchell Parsons
He was executed in 1999 after murdering a man. He shared his last meal with his brother and his cousin. They had Burger King Whoppers, fries, chocolate shakes, chocolate chip ice cream, and a packet of grape Hubba Bubba bubble gum.
Danny Rolling
He was convicted of serial murder and executed by lethal injection in 2006. His last meal was lobster tail, butterfly shrimp, baked potato, strawberry cheesecake and sweet tea.
Robert Lee Massie
He was executed by lethal injection in 2001 after being convicted of murder. His last meal consisted of two vanilla milkshakes, extra crispy French fries, extra crispy fried oysters, and soft drinks.
Lawrence Russell Brewer
He was convicted of murder in 2011 and asked for two chicken-fried steaks and gravy, a triple meat bacon cheeseburger, a cheese omelette, a bowl of fried okra, half a kilo of barbecued meat, half a loaf of bread, three fajitas, a meat lover’s pizza, three root beers, a bucket of vanilla ice cream and a slab of peanut butter fudge with crushed peanuts. After serving all this food, he didn’t eat any because he wasn’t hungry.
James Edward Smith
He died by lethal injection in 1990 after committing murder. He requested a lump of dirt, but his request was denied. He settled for a cup of yogurt instead.
Robert Anthony Madden
Despite claiming to be innocent, he was executed in 1997. He asked to donate his last meal to the homeless, but his request was denied.
Charles Walker
He was convicted of murder and executed by lethal injection in 1990. His last meal consisted of fried wild rabbit, biscuits, and blackberry pie.
Derrick Ryan Dearman
He was executed by lethal injection in 2024 after being convicted of mass murder. He asked for a seafood platter from a local restaurant consisting of fried catfish, three fried shrimp, three boiled shrimp, three fried oysters, three onion rings, a deviled crab, and two sides.
John Wayne Gacy
He was responsible for the deaths of over 33 young men and boys and was executed by lethal injection in 1994. He asked for a bucket of KFC chicken, 12 fried prawns, a pound of strawberries, French fries and a Diet Coke.
Ledell Lee
A murderer who died by lethal injection in 2017 and asked to receive the Holy Communion as his last meal.
Ted Bundy
He confessed to murdering 30 young women and girls, but the exact number of victims is suspected to be much higher. He was executed by electrocution in 1989 and declined a special last meal. He was given the traditional steak, eggs over easy, hash browns, toast, milk, coffee, juice, butter, and jelly, but didn’t eat any of it.
