Execution Report: Stanley Baker

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A jury convicted Baker of capital murder in July 1995 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals upheld the conviction and sentence in May 1997. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

"I was really depressed all the time," Baker said in an interview on death row. "I just wanted it to end. It's weird the way it happened. It's like I went insane ... I'm just glad it's about over. I'm looking forward to the last meal, but not the part that comes after," he laughed.

Baker's last meal request was for two 16-ounce rib eye steaks, a pound of thinly sliced turkey breast, 12 strips of bacon, two large hamburgers with mayonnaise, onion and lettuce; two large baked potatoes, four slices of cheese or a half-pound of grated cheddar cheese, a chef salad with bleu cheese dressing, two ears of corn on the cob, one pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream, and four vanilla Cokes or Mr. Pibbs. Whether or not this request was granted in full was not made public.

"Well, I don't have anything to say, so let's go," Baker said at his execution. When warden Neill Hodges asked Baker if he was sure he had no last statement, he said, "I am just sorry about what I did to Mr. Peters," calling his victim by the wrong name. "That's all." As the drugs began taking effect, he said, "My arm feels cold ... got some pain in my left arm. I guess that's the poison." Next, he coughed, gasped, and slightly wheezed. He was pronounced dead at 6:19 p.m.

By David Carson. Posted on 3 June 2002.
Sources: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Attorney General's office, Associated Press, College Station Eagle, Huntsville Item.