1. Elroy V. Tillman

Sentenced to die: Jan. 20, 1983.Crime: Killed Mark Schoenfeld, the boyfriend of his ex-girlfriend, in May 1982, by bludgeoning him with an ax and then burning the Salt Lake County house down.

Current appeal: Habeas corpus appeal filed in U.S. District Court June 19, 1995, remains under advisement.

Execution date: Stayed.

Time on death row: 156 months.

2. Ronnie Lee Gardner

Sentenced to die: Oct. 25, 1985.

Crime: Shot lawyer Michael Burdell during a courthouse escape attempt in April 1985.

Current appeal: Habeas corpus appeal to U.S. Supreme Court recently denied.

Execution date: March 8, 1996.

Time on death row: 123 months

3. Douglas Stewart Carter

Sentenced to die: Dec. 18, 1985. Resentenced Jan. 27, 1992.

Crime: Stripped, stabbed and shot Eva Olseon during a burglary in Provo in February 1985.

Current appeal: U.S. Supreme Court recently denied petition. State habeus corpus petition filed pro se. Sentenced stayed.

Execution date: Stayed.

Time on death row: 121 months

4. Killer: Joseph Mitchell Parsons

Sentenced to die: Jan. 29, 1988.

Crime: Stabbed Richard L. Ernest, a driver who gave him a ride in Iron County, in September 1987 after victim allegedly made a sexual advance.

Current appeal: Habeas corpus petition filed in U.S. District Court. Still under advisement.

Execution date: Stayed.

Time on death row: 95 months.

5. Killer: Ralph LeRoy Menzies

Sentenced to die: March 23, 1988. Stayed.

Crime: Kidnapped Maurine Hunsaker from a Kearns gas station in February 1986 then strangled her and slashed her throat.

Current appeal: Writ of habeas corpus filed 10 months ago, with petition pending in 3rd District Court.

Time on death row: 94 months.

6. Killer: John Albert Taylor

Sentenced to die: Dec. 19, 1989.

Crime: Strangled 11-year-old Charla King during a burglary in Washington Terrace.

Current appeal: Habeas corpus petition to Supreme Court denied Oct. 20.

Execution date: Jan. 26, 1996.

Time on death row: 73 months.

7. Killer: Michael Anthony Archuleta

Sentenced to die: Dec. 21, 1989.

Crime: Kidnapped and tortured Gordon Ray Church, a Southern Utah University student, in November 1988.

Current appeal: State habeas corpus petition pending.

Execution date: Stayed.

Time on death row: 73 months.

8. Killer: Von Lester Taylor

Sentenced to die: May 24, 1991.

Crime: Shot Kay Tiede and her elderly mother, Beth Potts, in an Oakley cabin in December 1990.

Current appeal: Still on direct appeal. Referred back to district court for hearing on competent counsel. Court found counsel not ineffective. Findings pending since July 1995.

Execution date: Stayed.

Time on death row: 55 months

9. Killer: Douglas Anderson Lovell

Sentenced to die: Aug. 5, 1993.

Crime: Killed Joyce Yost in Weber County in April 1985 shortly before she was to testify against him for sexual assault.

Current appeal: Still on direct appeal. Referred back to district court for hearing on competent counsel.

Execution date: Stayed.

Time on death row: 30 months

*****

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Taylor execution

The Taylor execution will be held in the warehouse where the prison's three previous executions were carried out by lethal injection.

John Albert Taylor

Firing squad consists oof 5 marksmen and 1 alternate

A. Government witnesses (5)

B. News/media witnesses (9)

C. Corrections official (1)

D. Taylor's witnesses (3)

*****

Executions

The following is a list of the methods of execution currently used in the United States and the most recent inmate put to death by each method.

ELECTROCUTION

Philip Atkins, Florida, Dec. 5, 1995

HANGING

Billy Bailey, Deleware, Jan. 25, 1996

GAS CHAMBER

David Lawson, North Carolina, June 15, 1994

View Comments

FIRING SQUAD

Gary Gilmore, Utah, Jan. 18, 1977

LETHAL INJECTION

Richard Townes Jr., Virginia, Jan. 23, 1996

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.