Utah death row inmates' last meals throughout the decades

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — UPDATE: Death row inmate Taberon Honie chooses cheeseburger with fries and shake as his final meal, eaten with family members.

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It is less than a week until death row inmate Taberon Honie's commutation hearing.

The Utah man is scheduled to be executed via lethal injection on August 8. He's convicted of sexually assaulting and killing his ex-girlfriend's mom.

At the hearing, he will have a chance to testify to the Board of Pardons. He's petitioning to commute his death sentence to life in prison instead.

If he is executed, he will get to choose his last meal. Death row inmates' last meals are something that's been documented throughout history, all over the world.

With that comes a lot of questions, so KUTV talked toGlen Mills, the Utah Department of Corrections Director of Communications and Government Relations.

"You know a lot of people don't choose their final meal; they don't necessarily know it's coming," Mills said. "Most of us don't have a schedule on when that's going to come."

The Death Penalty Information Center states the ritual goes so far back in history that its exact origins are unclear.

Here's a look at some of the last meals in Utah:

Eliseo J Mares, Jr. - Black Coffee, Fruit Salad

Eliseo J Mares, Jr. was convicted for the 1946 murder of an Ohio sailor who was giving him a ride from Evanston, Wyoming to Ogden, Utah.

According to court documents, Mares had left his army station in Spokane without permission and wandered around the country. His father - a deputy sheriff - convinced him to return. Record showed he stole a vehicle and drove it into Sinclair, Wyoming before it broke down.

Mares struck up a conversation with Jack Derwood Stallings shortly after arriving in Sinclair. Stallings agreed to drive him to Utah. Near the Wypming/Utah border, officials said Mares told them Stallings pulled over to rest.

Mares told police he pulled out a gun he had stolen out of the first vehicle and shot Stallings through the rear window.

Court records showed Mares then drove to a spot where he dumped Stallings body into a canal.

Mares was executed via firing squad on September 10, 1951. He requested to, "sip black coffee. He ate a small portion of fruit salad. On Sunday, he took only the standard prison fare."

Melvin LeRoy Sullivan, Verne Alred Braasch - Roasted Pheasant

Melvin LeRoy Sullivan and Verne Alred Braasch were both executed on the same day via firing squad.

They were executed on May 11th, 1956. Both of them were convicted of killing a gas station attendant. They requested the same meal of roasted pheasant, tossed salads, and strawberries and cream.

James W. Rodgers - No Special Request

James W. Rodgers was executed via firing squad on March 30, 1960. He made no request for a special last meal.

William Andrews - Banana Split

William Andrews was executed via lethal injection on July 30, 1992. His last meal was a banana split.

John Albert Taylor - Pizza

John Albert Taylor was executed via firing squad on January 26, 1996. For his last meal, he ordered a large pizza with thin crust, onions, mushrooms, hot peppers, sausage, pepperoni, ham and extra cheese.

He also asked for a soda to drink.

Joseph Mitchell Parsons - Hamburgers, Chocolate Shake

Joseph Mitchell Parsons was executed via lethal injection on October 15, 1999. For his final meal, Parsons selected three hamburgers, two french fries, a chocolate shake, chocolate chip ice cream, and a packet of grape gum.

Ronnie Lee Gardner - Steak, Lobster

Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed via firing squad on June 18, 2010. He chose to eat his final meal two days before his execution. He also requested to watch the "Lord of the Rings" series. He chose steak, lobster tail, apple pie, vanilla ice cream and soda, before beginning a 48-hour fast.

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