Death Row: Last Meals of Infamous Serial Killers

Lafayette, Louisiana (KMDL) - A serial killer is defined as someone who kills in a series, typically 3 or more murders, with a "cooling-off" period between crimes.

The crimes are all premeditated and follow a type of pattern or ritual.

Some of America's most notorious serial killers include Ted Bundy, Aileen Wuornos, Jeffrey Dahmer, and BTK Killer Dennis Rader.

A last meal is a customary practice where a prisoner chooses their final meal before execution. It’s meant as a gesture of compassion, dignity, or closure, even though they offered none of these things to their victims.

So, what did some of America's most heinous and notorious serial killers request for their last meals before they were executed?

Let's take a look...

What Are The Rules For Death Row Last Meals?

Although it's kind of widely believed that a condemned prisoner's last meal can be an extravagant meal of anything they want, but this isn't really the case.

That being said, what can and can't be requested for a last meal varies state to state, with some states allowing way more than others.

Some states don't even allow last meal requests, but for those who do, there are a few rules.

READ MORE: Louisiana Serial Killer Confesses Live on The Howard Stern Show

Most states put a limit on what the last meal can cost, usually around $20 to $40, however, Louisiana historically allows last meals from local restaurants.

The requested food must be either already on hand or from a nearby facility.

Also, no alcohol, tobacco, or illicit substances can be granted.

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Famous Serial Killer's Last Meals

When it comes to America's most notorious serial killer's last meal requests, it runs the gamut, from lobster to fried chicken.

Let's take a look at what some of America's worst serial killers requested for their last meals before being executed.

READ MORE: Louisiana Makes List of States That Produce Most Serial Killers

1. Ted Bundy - Confessed to killing 30 women and girls in the mid to late 1970s, but investigators believe he could be responsible for up to 100 murders.

Bundy was convicted of three murders and sentenced to death in Florida and was executed on Tuesday, January 24, 1989.

Ted Bundy declined requesting a last meal and was given the standard Florida State Prison last meal of steak, eggs, toast, and juice.

In a last-ditch effort to try and exert his egotistical control, Bundy ultimately refused his meal.

2. John Wayne Gacy - Convicted of torturing and murdering at least thirty-three young men and boys in Chicago, Illinois.

Gacy's requested last meal before his execution was Kentucky Fried Chicken, fried shrimp, French fries, strawberries, and an A&W root beer...a meal he was granted and ate.

John Wayne Gacy's death was confirmed at 12:58 a.m. on May 10, 1994, according to wikipedia.com.

3. Timothy McVeigh - An American domestic terrorist who carried out the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995, killing 168 people and injuring 684.

McVeigh was executed on June 11, 2001.

His last meal request was two pints of mint chocolate chip ice cream, which he was granted and ate.

READ MORE: The Gruesome Tale of Lafayette Serial Killer Clementine Barnabet

4. Aileen Wuornos - A female serial killer, Wuornos was convicted of killing seven men in Florida in 1989 to 1990.

She was executed on October 9, 2002, at Florida State Prison, the same prison where Ted Bundy was executed.

Wuornos declined her last meal request and instead just had a cup of coffee.

5. Richard Ramirez - Known as "The Night Stalker", Ramirez was convicted of murdering 13 people in the mid-1980s, although authorities believe he was responsible for many more.

The interesting thing about Ramirez's last meal is that he didn't know that it would be.

Ramirez died in prison of natural causes, complications from B-cell lymphoma in 2013.

According to a post on Reddit, before he died in the hospital, Ramirez reportedly ate chicken cacciatore for dinner.

6. Danny Rolling - Known as the Gainesville Ripper, Rolling murdered five college students in Gainesville, Florida over a period of four days.

He also confessed to killing 3 three people in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1990.

In 1994, Rolling was sentenced to death for the 5 Florida murders and was executed by lethal injection in 2006.

For his last meal, Rolling had lobster tail, fried shrimp, baked potato, strawberry cheesecake, and sweet tea.