Famous Last Words
Rocky Barton
Ohio
July 12, 2006
“As Gary Gilmore said, ‘let’s do it.’”
Barton had killed his wife during a domestic dispute as she was attempting to move her possessions out of their home. His wife was shot in the shoulder and the back while Barton’s uncle and 17-year-old daughter watched. Barton then tried to kill himself but only succeeded in removing a portion of his lower face.
Barton said he deserved to die for his crime and declined his appeals to extend his execution date or overturn the death penalty. His final statement was a direct quote of another inmate, Gary Gilmore, who was executed in 1977 for murder.