A single tortilla wrap, an entire menu, and more: A look into some of the oddest 'final meal' requests
- Replies 4
It’s almost a ceremonial practice—the last meal of those who’ve been sentenced to death row.
People have been talking about it for years; take the most famous example of the infamous mass murderer Ted Bundy, who had a steak, eggs, hashbrowns, toast and a glass of milk for his final supper.
In the wake of such a fate, a last meal is often seen as consolation for those who fail to receive a lenient punishment. It allows people to remember simpler times and take a trip down memory lane with dishes they remember eating during better days.
But, as you’ll soon see, some inmates don’t opt for the most nostalgic dishes but instead choose the stranger items. Here are some of the strangest meals ever chosen by people on death row.
A single tortilla wrap
Charles Rumbaugh's last meal was surprisingly minimalistic.
After being convicted of robbery and murder at age 17 and spending nearly a decade in prison before facing execution, Rumbaugh chose a single flour tortilla wrap to end his life on.
A can of Coca-Cola and a packet of chips
When Velma Barfield was hit with a life sentence after poisoning at least four people, her appeals failed, and the authorities allowed her to choose a last meal before her death.
In what must have been an act of nostalgia, she went for a simple can of Coca-Cola and a bag of Cheeze Doodles—a classic combination of fun and flavours.
Chicken, chips, and peas with cherries, olives, and celery
Bruno Richard Hauptmann, who was convicted for kidnapping and murdering a toddler, had what we can only describe as a 'bizarrely chosen' last meal. It leaned towards a classic combination of chicken and chips yet contained unexpected sides of cherries, olives, buttered peas, and plain celery.
Ordering the full menu
We have Lawrence Russell Brewer to thank for the fact that Texas death row inmates are no longer allowed to choose their last meal—he was the one who ordered an elaborate spread only to not touch a single bite of it, as he 'wasn’t hungry'.
His full list of foods included a triple bacon cheeseburger, a meat lovers' pizza, three root beers, peanut butter fudge, ice cream, an omelette, fried okra, half a kilo of barbecued meat, and a double order of chicken fried steak. Wow.
An entire jar of pickles
It seems that prisoners in Texas are fond of unusual last-meal requests since Stacey Lawton chose an entire jar of pickles alongside a cheeseburger and fries in 2000. This one is pretty typical for those who love that zesty flavour, but an entire jar? Many would probably say no.
It's worth noting that Australia abolished the death penalty with the Death Penalty Abolition Act 1973, so these examples have been taken from overseas.
What are your thoughts on these meal choices, members? Do you find them unusual? Or have you seen ‘weirder’ food combinations? Share them with us in the comments below!
People have been talking about it for years; take the most famous example of the infamous mass murderer Ted Bundy, who had a steak, eggs, hashbrowns, toast and a glass of milk for his final supper.
In the wake of such a fate, a last meal is often seen as consolation for those who fail to receive a lenient punishment. It allows people to remember simpler times and take a trip down memory lane with dishes they remember eating during better days.
But, as you’ll soon see, some inmates don’t opt for the most nostalgic dishes but instead choose the stranger items. Here are some of the strangest meals ever chosen by people on death row.
Here are some of the strangest final meals ordered by death row inmates. Credit: Pexels/Daniel Reche.
A single tortilla wrap
Charles Rumbaugh's last meal was surprisingly minimalistic.
After being convicted of robbery and murder at age 17 and spending nearly a decade in prison before facing execution, Rumbaugh chose a single flour tortilla wrap to end his life on.
A can of Coca-Cola and a packet of chips
When Velma Barfield was hit with a life sentence after poisoning at least four people, her appeals failed, and the authorities allowed her to choose a last meal before her death.
In what must have been an act of nostalgia, she went for a simple can of Coca-Cola and a bag of Cheeze Doodles—a classic combination of fun and flavours.
Chicken, chips, and peas with cherries, olives, and celery
Bruno Richard Hauptmann, who was convicted for kidnapping and murdering a toddler, had what we can only describe as a 'bizarrely chosen' last meal. It leaned towards a classic combination of chicken and chips yet contained unexpected sides of cherries, olives, buttered peas, and plain celery.
Ordering the full menu
We have Lawrence Russell Brewer to thank for the fact that Texas death row inmates are no longer allowed to choose their last meal—he was the one who ordered an elaborate spread only to not touch a single bite of it, as he 'wasn’t hungry'.
His full list of foods included a triple bacon cheeseburger, a meat lovers' pizza, three root beers, peanut butter fudge, ice cream, an omelette, fried okra, half a kilo of barbecued meat, and a double order of chicken fried steak. Wow.
An entire jar of pickles
It seems that prisoners in Texas are fond of unusual last-meal requests since Stacey Lawton chose an entire jar of pickles alongside a cheeseburger and fries in 2000. This one is pretty typical for those who love that zesty flavour, but an entire jar? Many would probably say no.
It's worth noting that Australia abolished the death penalty with the Death Penalty Abolition Act 1973, so these examples have been taken from overseas.
What are your thoughts on these meal choices, members? Do you find them unusual? Or have you seen ‘weirder’ food combinations? Share them with us in the comments below!
Last edited by a moderator:
.png){kind=icon}
