Ernest Marvin Carter

Case overview

Ernest Marvin Carter was executed by lethal injection in Oklahoma on December 17, 2002. He was also known as Ernest Carter and Ernest Marvin Carter Jr. His Department of Corrections number was DOC #177954.

Timeline

• December 17, 2002 (Tuesday) — Ernest Marvin Carter was pronounced dead at 6:14 p.m. CST, three minutes after receiving an injection of fatal chemicals at a state prison.
• Earlier in December 2002 — Oklahoma’s pardon and parole board unanimously recommended that Carter’s execution be stayed, citing a lack of direct evidence that he committed the crime.

Background

Ernest Marvin Carter was 36 years old. He was convicted in the 1990 murder of a security guard during a robbery.

Carter maintained his innocence.

He made pen-pal style statements while on death row. In one message, he wrote: “God and His word and the study of God's word.” He also said he had hobbies including “Bible crossword puzzles when I can get them. Also puzzles, crosswords and search-a-word puzzles.” He stated: “I am a Christian. Praise God!” He said: “None good (smile). English and just a little bit of Spanish.” He described qualities he would like in a pen pal: “Someone who honors God and family and is truthful (i.e. that will say what they mean and knows their own heart).” He said: “That would be nice, but it makes no difference.” He wrote that he was “already writing to other people” and that he had “Three or four outside of family.” He closed with: “God bless you with His peace.”

In a separate pen-pal request message, Carter addressed “Greetings the name of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” He wrote: “Hi, hello, how are you ? I pray you are in the best of health and spirits.” He stated: “I am 33 years old and been on Death Row almost ten years.” He wrote: “I enjoy sharing my faith in God and just like to have pen friends that can send me photos so I can keep a view on the outside. Smile.” He added: “If you need to know more just write and ask whatever.” He wrote: “God Bless You, Sincerely, Ernest Carter 177954 H-SW-3B PO Box 97 McAlester, OK 74502 USA.”

The offence

Carter was convicted of the shooting death of Eugene Manowski, 35, a security guard for an automobile auction company.

Police said Carter shot Manowski while stealing a tow truck from the auction house lot.

Investigation

Trial

Carter was convicted of the shooting death of Eugene Manowski, 35.

An accomplice, Charles L. Summers, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Sentencing and status before execution

Oklahoma’s pardon and parole board unanimously recommended that Carter’s execution be stayed, citing a lack of direct evidence that Carter committed the crime.

Gov. Frank Keating denied a stay of execution after he reviewed the case.

The parole board often cited a standard involving “moral certainty” in connection with its recommendation.

Keating said death sentences should have a higher standard for conviction and that no one should be put to death without “moral certainty” that they committed the crime.

Arrest

The provided material did not include details about an arrest.

Execution

On December 17, 2002, Carter received an injection of fatal chemicals at a state prison. Jerry Massie of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections spokesman said he was pronounced dead at 6:14 p.m. CST, three minutes after receiving the injection: “I'll be with y'all on the other side,”

Carter’s last words to family members and friends were reported by prison officials: “I'll be with y'all on the other side,” Carter said in his last words delivered to family members and friends, prison officials said. “I'm going home now.”

Carter’s last requested meal was a deep-dish pizza, a soft drink and a slice of cherry cheesecake.

Outcome

Carter was executed by lethal injection in Oklahoma on December 17, 2002.

He was the 55th person executed in Oklahoma since Oklahoma reinstated the death penalty in 1977 and resumed executions in 1990. He was the third person Oklahoma had executed in that month.

Other details

A statement attributed to Jerry Massie identified the time of death as 6:14 p.m. CST and described the timing relative to injection: “said Oklahoma Department of Corrections spokesman Jerry Massie.”

The material included a mailing address for Ernest Carter: PO Box 97, McAlester, OK 74502, and “DOC #177954.” It also included “Canadian Coalitionto Abolish the Death Penalty (Pen-Pal Request).”