Kenneth Edward Gentry
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- Gender
- male
- Country
- USA
- Location
- Denton County, Texas, USA
- Date of birth
- January 28, 1961
- Age at first offence
- 22
- Characteristics
- fugitive
- Victim profile
- Jimmy Don Ham, 23 (hitchhiker)
- Method of murder
- Shooting
- Date(s) of murder
- September 10, 1983
- Years active
- 1983
- Date of arrest
- 5 days after
- Status
-
Executed
Executed by lethal injection in Texas on April 16, 1997
Overview
Kenneth Edward Gentry (#760) was executed by lethal injection in Texas on April 16, 1997.
Timeline
- April 16, 1997 — Kenneth Gentry was executed by lethal injection in Texas.
- July 1982 — Kenneth Gentry escaped from prison in Georgia by driving a prison car through a fence.
- 1983 — Kenneth Gentry picked up and befriended Jimmy Don Ham, 23, a hitchhiker, and was condemned for Ham’s murder.
Background
Kenneth Gentry was a prison escapee who was trying to shake the authorities from Georgia. He had escaped from prison in Georgia in July 1982 by driving a prison car through a fence.
The offence
Kenneth Gentry was condemned for the 1983 murder of Jimmy Don Ham, 23, a hitchhiker he picked up and befriended with the hope of assuming his identity.
Trial
Kenneth Gentry had exhausted his appeals, and no 11th-hour efforts were made to save his life.
Sentencing
Kenneth Gentry was condemned for the 1983 murder of Jimmy Don Ham.
Appeals
Kenneth Gentry had exhausted his appeals.
Outcome
Kenneth Gentry was executed by injection on April 16, 1997.
Aftermath
Last statement
Kenneth Gentry made the following last statement:
Thank the Lord for the past 14 years that have allowed me to grow as a man – To J.D.’s family, I am sorry for the suffering you have gone through the past 14 years. I hope you can get some peace tonight. To my family, I am happy to be going home to Jesus. Sweet Jesus, here I come. Take me home. I am going your way.
Last meal request
Kenneth Gentry’s last meal request was: A bowl of butter beans, mashed potatoes, onions, tomatoes, biscuits, chocolate cake and Dr Pepper with ice.
Other details
Kenneth Gentry was 36 at the time of execution. The New York Times reported the execution on April 17, 1997, describing it as the execution of a killer of a hitchhiker nearly 14 years earlier.
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