One inmate on Florida’s death row is the reason that prisoners in the state can no longer select this one item prior to their execution.
Death row inmates in Florida had previously been permitted to include one specific item with their final meal before their execution. However, that long-standing practice came to a sudden halt following the actions of one inmate that caused public outrage.
John Spenkelink, aged 30, was executed after being convicted for the 1973 murder of Joseph Szymankiewicz in a motel room. In the case details, Spenkelink shot Szymankiewicz twice before hitting him in the head with a hatchet. He asserted that the victim had coerced him at gunpoint into performing a sexual act and participating in a game of Russian roulette.
While awaiting execution at Florida State Prison, officials encountered an unforeseen issue: none of the staff knew how to operate the electric chair.
Florida had not executed anyone in 15 years, resulting in prison personnel having minimal hands-on experience with the process.
Richard Dugger, the assistant superintendent of Florida State Prison, remarked to the Ledger: “We had to begin from square one and depend on people’s memories,” as reported by VT.
As the execution date approached, prison superintendent Dave Brierton stated that both he and Spenkelink were going through a profoundly challenging time.
“It was an extremely tough period for Spenkelink. It was a very hard time for me. It was the loss of a human life,” Brierton expressed.
Widespread outrage was ignited
In an attempt to ease the condemned inmate’s nerves before the execution, Brierton offered Spenkelink a bottle of Jack Daniel’s instead of medication.
Dugger later clarified the choice to UPI.
“It appeared to be a way to possibly soothe the fellow before he was meant to go to the chair.
“We discussed tranquilizers, but we didn’t think drugs were suitable. Perhaps you could argue that alcohol is a drug, I’m not sure.
“We asked Spenkelink if he wanted a drink, and he replied, ‘Sure.’”
Once the news of this gesture became public, it incited widespread outrage. Critics argued that someone convicted of such a heinous crime should not receive what many considered a special privilege before execution.
The backlash led Florida officials to amend the state’s regulations regarding last meals, eliminating alcohol from the list of allowable items.
Prior to Spenkelink, the last condemned individual in Florida to receive alcohol before an execution was Manuel Fernandez in 1835. In addition to a “nip of brandy,” Fernandez was granted a few puffs on a cigar before his execution.