Sean Patrick Flanagan

Timeline

• June 23, 1989 — Sean Patrick Flanagan was executed by injection early Friday in Nevada.
• June 24, 1989 — Nevada Executes Man in Homosexual Killings (AP) was published by The New York Times.
• Wednesday — Sean Patrick Flanagan said in an interview that he would not appeal because he had to pay his debt to society.
• 2:01 A.M. — Flanagan was declared dead eight minutes after the lethal injection was made.
• five days earlier — The execution was described as the second execution in five days in Nevada.
• 1987 — Flanagan was executed for two 1987 murders in Las Vegas.
• Orange, Calif. — Flanagan was arrested for jaywalking after which he confessed to the murders of two men.
• Four days later — He confessed to the second murder after the first.
• last-minute petition — Gov. Bob Miller rejected a last-minute petition from the American Civil Liberties Union for a stay.

Background

Sean Patrick Flanagan was 28 years old when he was executed. He said he thought he was doing society a service by killing homosexuals. In a seven-page statement, he disclosed that he hated his own homosexuality. He said it was difficult for him to determine what made him kill men he thought were homosexual, but "the thought that I would be doing some good for our society crossed my mind."

Flanagan spent his last hours reading the Bible. He apologized to the families of his victims and said, "I hope they'll understand my execution is proper and just." In an interview Wednesday, he said, "After giving my life to Jesus, I couldn't hurt anybody again." He also said he would not appeal because he had to pay his debt to society.

The offence

Flanagan was sentenced to die for the Las Vegas murders of two homosexuals.

He described his first victim as a middle-aged chef who had befriended him after losing his money on gambling. Flanagan said he strangled and dismembered the chef.

Four days later, Flanagan said he strangled a pianist after the pianist offered him a ride. The pianist was 59 years old.

The record stated that Flanagan’s motive involved his perception that murdering homosexuals would be "doing some good for our society." It also stated: "Mr. Flanagan confessed to the murders of two men" after being arrested in Orange, Calif., for jaywalking.

Investigation

Flanagan confessed to the murders of two men after he was arrested in Orange, Calif., for jaywalking.

He said he strangled and dismembered James Lewandowski, a 45-year-old chef. He said that Lewandowski had befriended him after he lost all his money drinking and gambling.

He also confessed to strangling Albert Duggins, a 59-year-old pianist, after Duggins offered him a ride.

In his seven-page statement, Flanagan disclosed that he hated his own homosexuality and discussed the difficulty of determining what made him kill men he thought were homosexual.

Arrest

Flanagan was arrested in Orange, Calif., for jaywalking. After this arrest, he confessed to the murders of two men.

Trial

Flanagan was executed for two 1987 murders in Las Vegas.

He was sentenced to die for the Las Vegas murders of two homosexuals.

Sentencing

Flanagan was sentenced to die.

Appeals

Gov. The record stated that Governor Miller said he would not intervene and added that Flanagan had appeals available if he wanted to stop the execution.

In an interview Wednesday, Flanagan said he would not appeal because he had to pay his debt to society.

Outcome

Flanagan was executed by injection early Friday in Nevada. The execution occurred at the Nevada State Prison. As five guards strapped him to a stretcher in the death chamber, he smiled and told the prosecutor Dan Seaton: "I love you."

The deputy district attorney of Clark County, Dan Seaton, said: "He has said it before." Seaton added that Flanagan meant it in terms of Christian love and forgiveness.

Seaton also added: "I think he believes he is a Christian, but from God's perception, no." Seaton further added: "I'm sure he'd kill again."

The record stated that he was declared dead eight minutes after the lethal injection was made at 2:01 A.M.

It was described as the second execution in five days in Nevada, Nevada's fourth, and the nation's 114th since the Supreme Court ruling of 1976 that allowed states to resume the use of capital punishment.

Other details

The record included Flanagan’s statement: "the thought that I would be doing some good for our society crossed my mind." It also included the statement: "I love you." It also included: "He has said it before." It also included: "He means it in terms of Christian love and forgiveness." It also included: "I think he believes he is a Christian, but from God's perception, no." It also included: "I'm sure he'd kill again." It also included: "After giving my life to Jesus, I couldn't hurt anybody again." It also included: "I hope they'll understand my execution is proper and just." It also included: "doing some good for our society." It also stated that the prisoner’s last hours included reading the Bible.