Lucius Hightower

Murderer
1known / alleged victims
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Case Facts
Gender
male
Country
USA
Location
Grant County, New Mexico, USA
Date of birth
???
Characteristics
parricide, alcohol
Victim profile
Hallie Eakin (his wife)
Method of murder
Shooting
Date(s) of murder
1915
Years active
1915
Date of arrest
—
Status
Executed

Executed by hanging in Silver City on November 13, 1916 (decapitated in a hanging); Hightower was executed in Silver City, New Mexico on November 13, 1916 for the murder of his wife.

Case Summary

Name

Lucius Hightower

Status and outcome

Lucius Hightower was executed by hanging in Silver City on November 13, 1916 (decapitated in a hanging). He was executed in Silver City, New Mexico on November 13, 1916 for the murder of his wife.

In his final statement, the condemned man forgave all watching the hanging, said he had made his peace with his Creator, and exhorted the spectators to live a "Christian life." The trapdoor was sprung and, in a particularly horrific spectacle, Hightower’s head was yanked and cut from his body by the noose. This inadvertent decapitation was attributed to the condemned man’s immense weight, which exceeded 200 pounds. It was noted that this was not the first time in New Mexico history that a man had been decapitated in a hanging; at least one other had occurred at the execution of "Black Jack" Ketchum in 1901.

Conviction and appellate status

Hightower was convicted of the murder of his wife. The New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed the conviction.

People present and statements

Hightower’s father-in-law was present at the execution. After the hanging, he stated that the execution was "just as he would have had it," and that he had personally felt the need to avenge his daughter’s death.

Other details

Hightower’s execution in Silver City on November 13, 1916 involved inadvertent decapitation during the hanging.

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