David Cooper Nelson

Murderer

3known / alleged victims (1 - 3)

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: USA
Location: New Mexico, USA
Date of birth: ???
Characteristics: hitchhiking
Victim profile: Ralph Henderson Rainey, 46 / John Valente and Kenneth Short
Method of murder: Shooting
Date(s) of murder: January 8, 1956
Years active: 1956
Date of arrest: —
Status: Executed
Executed by asphyxiation-gas in New Mexico on August 11, 1960

Case Summary

Timeline

January 10, 1956 — Ralph Henderson Rainey’s body was found near Budville.
August 11, 1960 — David Cooper Nelson was executed by asphyxiation-gas in New Mexico; cyanide fumes rose about his face at 12:12 AM, and he expired at 12:20 AM.

Background

David Cooper Nelson was executed by asphyxiation-gas in New Mexico on August 11, 1960. He was the first individual to die in the New Mexico gas chamber.

The offence

Nelson was convicted of murdering Ralph Henderson Rainey, a 46 year-old butcher from Santa Monica, CA.

Rainey’s body was found near Budville on January 10, 1956. The body had apparently died within the previous two days by two gunshot wounds to the head.

Nelson’s fingerprints were found in Rainey’s vehicle.

Nelson also confessed to killing two other individuals, John Valente and Kenneth Short, although he later recanted the Valente confession.

Nelson maintained that he had witnessed a third party kill Rainey prior to his execution.

Investigation

Rainey’s body was found near Budville on January 10, 1956, after being dead for apparently the previous two days.

Upon being located in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nelson confessed twice to the killing but later repudiated his confessions.

Nelson later recanted his confession(s), including repudiating the Valente confession.

Arrest

Nelson was located in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Trial

At his first trial, Nelson maintained an insanity defense, but was found sane and guilty.

At his second trial, his confessions were disallowed, but with the same end result.

Sentencing

Nelson was executed by asphyxiation-gas in New Mexico on August 11, 1960.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Outcome

At 12:12 AM on August 11, 1960, the door was screwed shut and cyanide fumes rose about Nelson’s face. He was gasping and expired at 12:20 AM.

Warden Harold Cox advised Nelson to take a deep breath of the fumes and asked whether Nelson had anything to say.

Nelson responded: "OK Warden. God be with you."

Cooper then remarked to the prison chaplain that he was going home, and was told to "keep praying."

After the witnesses left the prison, a prisoner was heard to shout "Are you happy now?"

Warden Cox told reporters that he was proud of the efficiency of the execution.

Before his execution, Nelson tried to escape from prison.

At the last, Nelson requested that the two prisoners in the cells next to his former cell receive special meals after his death, a wish with which Warden Cox said he would comply.

Other details

Nelson was convicted of murdering Ralph Henderson Rainey, and his fingerprints were found in Rainey’s vehicle.

Nelson was described as the last person executed as of the web publication of this article (2007).

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