List of people executed in New Mexico

The gas chamber at the Penitentiary of New Mexico

A total of 103 executions have been recorded in New Mexico: four during the Spanish Colonial era (1598–1821), none during the Mexican era (1821–1846), 51 during the Territorial era (1846–1913), 20 by the U.S. Military during the Taos Rebellion (1847), 27 between 1913 and 1960, when the death penalty was removed except for the murder of a police officer, and one since 1976, when the death penalty was reinstated; it remained until March 18, 2009, when Governor Bill Richardson signed a bill abolishing capital punishment into law after many struggles with the issues in previous weeks. Following this repeal, Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White began a campaign to reinstate the practice by referendum.

Ninety-four of the executions were by hanging, seven by electrocution, one by the lethal gas, and one by lethal injection. Two of the hanged, "Black Jack" Ketchum in 1901 and Lucius Hightower in 1916, were accidentally decapitated by the noose due to their weight. The death sentences of five convicts were commuted by Governor Toney Anaya in 1986, on the eve of Thanksgiving.

The following is a list of the 28 executions carried out by the state of New Mexico since 1912. All of those executed were men and all of them were executed for first degree murder.

Name Race Age Date of execution Method Murder victim Under Governor
Ivory Frazer White April 25, 1913, 4:52 AM Hanging Deputy sheriff Thomas Hall, 47, and Special Deputy Sheriff A.L. Smithers William C. McDonald
Francisco Granado Hispanic William S. Clark
Demecio Delgadillo Hispanic 32 May 16, 1913, 5:09 AM Soledad Zarrazino de Pino
Francisco Alvarez Hispanic 22 June 9, 1916 Charles DeWitt Miller, 29, white[a]
Juan Sanchez Hispanic 16 James Todd Dean, 61, white[b]
Taurino Garcia Hispanic 21 June 30, 1916 Charles DeWitt Miller, 29, white[c]
Eusiero Renteria Hispanic 24
Juan Castillo Hispanic 26
Jose Rangel Hispanic 23
Lucius Hightower White 50 November 13, 1916 Mrs. Hightower
Julian Romero Hispanic April 11, 1918 Maria Varela de Jaure Washington E. Lindsey
Elbert Blancett White 25 July 9, 1920 Clyde D. Amour Octaviano Larrazolo
Eleuterio Corral Hispanic 18 January 20, 1922 Ventura Bencomo Merritt C. Mechem
Rumaldo Losano Hispanic 19
Luis Medrano Hispanic 27 July 28, 1922 Anton Coury
Ysidero Miranda Hispanic 33
Carlos Renteria Hispanic 24
Stephen Katonka White 40 October 20, 1922 William Kelly, Sam Groy
Francisco Vaisa Hispanic 25 April 6, 1923, 5:30 AM Anton Coury James F. Hinkle
Thomas Johnson Black 42 July 21, 1933, 12:38 AM Electrocution Angelina Jaramillo, 18 (rape) Arthur Seligman
Santiago Garduno Hispanic 49 July 21, 1933, 1:12 AM Filemon Martinez, 16 (stepson)[d]
Pedro Talamante Hispanic 54 May 10, 1946, 12:10 AM Antonia Talamante, 25 (wife)[e] John J. Dempsey
Louis Young Black 47 June 13, 1947, 12:07 AM Eloise Kennedy, 23 (attempted rape) Thomas J. Mabry
Arthur Fay Johnson White 57 February 19, 1954, 12:09 AM William Cabrel, 59 (robbery)[1][f] Edwin L. Mechem
Frederick W. Heisler White 33 October 29, 1954, 12:15 AM John Gunnish, 39 (robbery)
James Larry Upton White 22 February 12, 1956, 12:09 AM Donald Dilley, 18 (robbery) John F. Simms
David Cooper Nelson White 39 January 8, 1960, 12:20 AM Lethal gas Ralph Henderson Rainey, 46 (robbery)[g] John Burroughs
Terry D. Clark White 45 November 6, 2001, 7:10 PM Lethal injection Dena Lynn Gore, 9 (kidnapping-rape)[h] Gary Johnson

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Also murdered 17 other white people.
  2. ^ Also murdered 17 other white people.
  3. ^ Also murdered 17 other white people.
  4. ^ Serial killer, previously convicted of two other murders and suspected of a third murder.
  5. ^ Also attempted to murder the victim's 11-year-old brother, Joe Reyes. Reyes was left permanently crippled from his injuries.
  6. ^ Had 15 prior felony convictions, including for murder.
  7. ^ Also murdered Kenneth Short in Texas and suspected of the murder of John Valente in Nevada.
  8. ^ Also kidnapped and raped six-year-old Donita Welch and left her for dead. He was on bail while appealing his conviction for this crime at the time of the murder.

References

  1. ^ "Article clipped from The Albuquerque Tribune". The Albuquerque Tribune. February 19, 1954. p. 13. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
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