Famous Last Words James Donald French Oklahoma August 10, 1966 “How’s this for a headline? ‘French fries.’” (attributed) French was a convicted murderer, serving time for killing a hitchhiker in 1958 when he strangled his cellmate with a shoelace in 1961. He was executed in the electric chair, reportedly “without flinching or begging.” French’s last… Continue reading FLW: “French fries”
Category: Oklahoma
Three girls murdered during Girl Scouts camping trip
June 13, 1977 Mayes County, Oklahoma Michele Guse (9, left), Lori Farmer (8, middle), and Doris Milner (10, right) are found raped and murdered during a camping trip The girls shared a tent at a Girl Scouts camping trip. Their tent was located the furthest from the camp counselor’s tent, them and was partially obscured… Continue reading Three girls murdered during Girl Scouts camping trip
Serial killer “The Giggling Granny” dies in prison
June 2, 1965 McAlester, Oklahoma Nannie Doss, known by various names including “The Giggling Granny,” dies in prison Doss was a Blackwidow, killing her husbands both for insurance money and to search “for the perfect mate, the real romance of life.” She elaborated by stating her actions were inspired by romance novels and the pursuit… Continue reading Serial killer “The Giggling Granny” dies in prison
The ending of the Tulsa Race Riot
June 1, 1921 Tulsa, Oklahoma The Tulsa Race Riot ends with the wealthiest black community in Tulsa being burned to the ground The riot began after an alleged assault of a black 19-year-old male shoeshiner on a white 17-year-old female elevator operator on May 30. A witness heard the girl scream and a black man… Continue reading The ending of the Tulsa Race Riot
Mother and teenaged son lynched before their trial
May 25, 1911 Okema, Oklahoma Laura Nelson and her 16-year-old son are lynched, their bodies left hanging from a bridge The Nelsons were charged with the May 2 killing of a deputy sheriff who had visited their farm looking for a stolen cow. According to the report, Laura was the first to grab the gun… Continue reading Mother and teenaged son lynched before their trial
