The following is a list of people executed in the U.S. state of Colorado. 1876–1889 +NameRaceAgeDate of executionCountyCrimeVictim(s)GovernorJames MillerMixed23February 2, 1877BentMurderJames Sutherland, whiteJames Miller, 1877 February 2John Long RouttVictor NunezHispanic57March 14, 1879ArapahoeMurderLuis Rascone, HispanicVictor Nunez, CO, 1879 March 14Frederick Walker PitkinCicero SimmsWhite19July 23, 1880ParkMurderJohn Johnson, whiteCicero Simms, CO, 1880 July 29W. H. SalisburyWhite33July 17, 1881El PasoMurderThomas L. Perkins, whiteW.H Salisbury, CO, 1881 June 17Merrick RosengrantsWhiteJuly 29, 1881LakeMurder-BurglaryJohn Langmeyer, whiteMerric Rosengrants, 1881 July 29Frank GilbertWhite30MurderJames McCollum, whiteFrank Gilbert, 1881 July 29Thomas ColemanBlack27December 16, 1881GunnisonMurderAlbert Smith, blackThomas Coleman, 1881 December 16George WoodsWhite34June 23, 1882La PlataMurderM. G. Buchanan, whiteGeorge Woods, CO, 1882 June 23Miguel GarciaHispanic54December 20, 1884PuebloMurder-RobberyDennis Wilkes, whiteMiguel Garcia, CO, 1884 December 20James Benton GrantCharles HibbardWhiteApril 24, 1885Las AnimasMurder-RobberyWilliam Knowles, whiteCharles Hibbard, 1885 April 24Benjamin Harrison EatonMarshall ClementsWhiteDecember 3, 1885SaguacheMurderThomas and Susie Clements, white (brother and sister-in-law)Marshall Clements, CO, 1885 December 3Cyrus MinnichWhite39February 5, 1886LakeMurder-RobberySamuel Baldwin, whiteCyrus Minnich, 1886 February 5Andrew GreenBlack25July 27, 1886ArapahoeMurder-RobberyJoseph C. Whitnah, whiteAndrew Green, CO, 1886 July 27Nocollo FimenelloWhiteAugust 25, 1888ChaffeeMurderWilliam Casey, whiteNocollo Fimenello, CO, 1888 August 25Alva AdamsJose OrtezHispanicJuly 16, 1889ConejosMurder-RobberyC. E. LeDuc, whiteJose Ortese, CO, 1889 July 16Job Adams Cooper
1890–1997 In 1890, a new law was passed which centralized executions at the state penitentiary, and forbid the press from publishing accounts of executions. Rather than installing a traditional gallows, the penitentiary used a mechanized device which executed prisoners by pulling them upwards rather than by falling. During this period, capital punishment was abolished from 1897 to 1901. In 1933, hanging was officially replaced with gas asphyxiation, with the state constructing its new gas chamber at the state penitentiary by January 1934. After the Gregg v. Georgia ruling in 1976 which restored capital punishment, gas asphyxiation was replaced with lethal injection in 1988. Colorado only executed a single prisoner by lethal injection. Colorado eventually abolished capital punishment in 2020. +NameRaceAgeDate of executionCounty or CityCrimeVictim(s)GovernorNoverto GriegoHispanicNovember 8, 1890Las AnimasMurder-RobberyW. L. Underwood, whiteNoverto Griego, CO, 1890 November 8Job Adams CooperJames T. JoyceWhite33January 17, 1891ArapahoeMurderJohn Snooks, 20, whiteJames Joyce, CO, 1891 January 17John Long RouttWilliam C. DavisBlack26September 22, 1891PuebloMurderCarrie Armsby (foster mother) and James Arnold, mixed and whiteWilliam Davis, 1891 September 22Charles SmithBlack30December 14, 1891HuerfanoMurderTaylor Sillman, black (girlfriend's husband)Charles Smith, CO, 1891 December 14Smith, CO, 1891 October 17Thomas LawtonWhite24May 6, 1892El PasoMurder-RobberyJohn A. Hemming, whiteThomas Lawton, 1892 May 6Thomas JordanWhite29May 11, 1895ArapahoeMurderAugust Sisin, whiteThomas Jordan, CO, 1895 May 11Albert McIntirePeter AugustaWhite47MurderHarry Sullivan, whitePeter Augusta, CO, 1895 May 11Abe TaylorWhite32December 13, 1895ConejosMurderCharles H. Emerson, white (police officer)Abe Taylor, CO, 1895 December 13Benjamin RatcliffWhiteFebruary 7, 1896ChaffeeMurderThree people, whiteBenjamin Ratcliff, CO, 1896 February 7William HoltWhite21June 26, 1896Las AnimasMurderJohn Solomon, white (police officer)Albert Noble, CO, 1896 June 26Albert NobleWhiteDeonecio RomeroHispanicAzel GalbraithWhiteMarch 6, 1905GilpinMurderFemale and male, 8 (male), white (wife and son)Azel Galbraith, CO, 1905 March 6Alva AdamsFred ArnoldWhite20June 16, 1905City of DenverMurder-RobberyAmanda Youngblood, 63, whiteFrederick Arnold, CO, 1905 June 16Jesse Fuller McDonaldNewton AndrewsWhite21Joseph JohnsonWhiteSeptember 13, 1905Las AnimasMurderJohn H. Fox, whiteJoseph Johnson, CO, 1905 September 13John McGarveyWhite25January 12, 1907MesaMurderEdward Innes, 28, white (jailer)John McGarvey, 1907 January 12Henry Augustus BuchtelGiuseppe AliaWhite56July 15, 1908City of DenverMurderLeo Heinrichs, 40, whiteGuiseppe Alia, 1908 July 15James LynnBlack50October 8, 1908PuebloMurderSarah James, 16, whiteJames Lynn, 1908 October 8Lewis WechterWhite29August 31, 1912City of DenverMurder-RobberyW. Clifford Burrowes, whiteLewis Wechter, 1912 August 31John F. ShafrothHarry E. HillenWhite24June 24, 1915City of DenverMurder-RobberyThomas Chase, whiteHarry Hillen, CO, 1915 June 24George Alfred CarlsonGeorge QuinnWhite31January 28, 1916City of DenverMurderWilliam Herbertson, 36, white (girlfriend's husband)George Quinn, CO, 1916 January 28Oscar CookWhiteFebruary 26, 1916City of DenverMurder-RobberyAndrew J. Loyd and William McPherson (police officer), whiteOscar Cook, CO, 1916 February 26George BoskoWhite29December 10, 1920PuebloMurder-RobberyElton C. Parks and William T. Hunter, whiteGeorge Bosko, 1920 December 10Oliver Henry ShoupDaniel BorichMiddle Eastern51August 18, 1922RouttMurderMilla Borich (wife) and Joseph Kezele, Middle Eastern and whiteDaniel Borich, CO, 1922 August 18Joe McGonigalWhite42April 26, 1924Las AnimasMurderElla Centers (girlfriend) and Wilbur N. Ferguson, whiteJoe McGonigal, 1924 April 26William Ellery SweetRay F. ShankWhite56September 18, 1926City of DenverMurderMarion and Paul Shank, 19 (Paul), white (wife and son)Ray Shank, CO, 1926 September 18Clarence MorleyAntonio CasiasHispanicNovember 12, 1926Rio GrandeMurderCarmen Barela, HispanicAntonio Casias, CO, 1926 November 12Arthur OsbornWhite22March 30, 1928GrandMurder-RobberyFred N. Selak, 65, whiteArthur Osborn, Jasper Noakes, 1928 March 30Billy AdamsJasper R. NoakesWhite20Edward IvesWhite44January 10, 1930City of DenverMurderHarry R. Ohle, white (police officer)Edward Ives, 1930 January 10Harold I. WeissWhite26May 28, 1930City of DenverMurderFemale, white (wife)Harold Weiss, CO, 1930 May 28Ralph E. FleagleWhiteJuly 10, 1930ProwersMurder-RobberyA. N. Parrish, whiteRalph Fleagle, 1930 July 10Howard Royston, George Abshier, 1930 July 18Howard L. RoystonWhiteJuly 18, 1930George J. AbshierWhiteAmalio HerreraHispanic21August 20, 1930City of DenverMurderMaria Herrera, Hispanic (wife)Amalio Herrera, CO, 1930 August 20William MoyaHispanic30December 12, 1930City of DenverMurder-RobberyJoseph Zemp, 80, whiteWilliam Moya, 1930 December 12Claude RayWhite25January 30, 1931KiowaMurderCoral A. Hickman, white (deputy sheriff)Andrew Halliday, CO, 1931 January 30John WalkerWhite42Andrew HallidayWhite23James V. FosterWhite49December 11, 1931WeldMurderFour people, whiteJames Foster, 1931 December 11E. J. FarmerWhiteMarch 18, 1932MoffatMurderEarl Hopkins, whiteE.J. Farmer, CO, 1932 March 18Joe MeastasMixed25May 27, 1932CostillaMurderBenjamin Addis, whiteJoe Meastas, 1932 May 27Nelwelt MossBlack20March 10, 1933GunnisonMurderRena Schierenback, 79, whiteNelwelt Moss, 1933 March 10Edwin C. JohnsonWalter JonesWhite23December 1, 1933MesaMurder-RobberyHartford Johnson, 35, whiteWalter Jones, 1933 December 1William C. KellyWhite30June 22, 1934DeltaMurder-RobberyRussell Downing, 53, whiteWilliam Kelly, 1934 June 22Louis PachecoHispanic37May 31, 1935WeldMurderRobert Griffin, 16, whiteLouis Pacheco, 1935 May 31John PachecoHispanic24Leonard BelongiaWhite24June 21, 1935WeldMurderAlbert E. Oesterick, whiteLeonard Belongia, 1935 June 21Otis McDanielWhite31February 14, 1936San MiguelMurderW. W. Dunlap, white (deputy sheriff)Otis McDaniel, CO, 1936 February 14Frank AguilarHispanic34August 13, 1937PuebloMurder-RapeDorothy Drain, 15, whiteFrank Aguilar, 1937 August 13Joe Arridy, 1939 January 6Teller AmmonsJoe ArridyMiddle Eastern23January 6, 1939Pete CatalinaWhite41September 29, 1939ChaffeeMurderJohn Trujillo, 23, HispanicPete Catalina, CO, 1939 September 29Ralph Lawrence CarrAngelo AgnesBlack31City of DenverMurderMelinda Agnes, black (wife)Angelo Agnes, CO, 1939 September 29Harry LeopoldWhite29December 9, 1939City of DenverMurder-RobberyEmil Albrecht, 61, whiteHarry Leopold, 1939 December 9Joe CoatesBlack63January 10, 1941City of DenverMurderFrank Renovato, white (detective)Joe Coates, CO, 1941 January 10James StephensWhite76June 20, 1941MontezumaMurderLynn Dean, white (Mancos town marshal)James Stephens, CO, 1941 June 20Martin SukleWhite38May 22, 1942El PasoMurderMarie Essex Sukle (wife) and Jack Russell, 23 (wife), whiteMartin Sukle, 1942 May 22Donald H. FearnWhite23October 23, 1942PuebloMurder-Rape-KidnapAlice Porter, 16, whiteDonald Fearn, 1942 October 23John Charles VivianJohn SullivanWhite43September 20, 1943El PasoMurder-Rape-BurglaryCarrie Winona Culbertson, whiteJohn Sullivan, 1943 September 20George HondaAsianOctober 8, 1943City of DenverMurderMary Honda, Asian (wife)George Honda, CO, 1943 October 8Howard C. PottsWhite41June 22, 1945City of DenverMurderMary Theresa Potts, white (wife)Howard Potts, 1945 June 22Charles F. SillimanWhite35November 9, 1945ArapahoeMurderEsther and Patricia Silliman, 4 (Patricia), white (wife and daughter)Charles Silliman, 1945 November 9Frank H. MartzWhite35November 23, 1945ArapahoeMurder-Rape-KidnapKathleen Ann Geist, 3, whiteFrank Martz, CO, 1945 November 23John H. BrownMixed50May 23, 1947City of DenverMurderEvelyn Smith, 27, blackJohn Brown, CO, 1947 May 23William Lee KnousHarold GilletteWhite31June 20, 1947LarimerMurderGlen D. Cook, whiteHarold Gillette, CO, 1947 June 20Robert S. BattalinoWhite39January 7, 1949JeffersonMurder-Robbery-KidnapMichael H. Randolph, whiteRobert Battalino, CO, 1949 January 7Paul F. SchneiderWhite24December 16, 1949WashingtonMurder-Robbery-KidnapFrank J. Ford, 47, whitePaul Schneider, 1949 December 16John Berger Jr.White34January 26, 1951City of DenverMurderPauline Berger, white (wife)John Jr. Berger, CO, 1951 October 26Daniel I. J. ThorntonBesalirez MartinezHispanic42September 7, 1956EagleMurderPerfecto Cruz, HispanicBesalirez Martinez, CO, 1956 September 7Edwin C. JohnsonJohn Gilbert GrahamWhite23January 11, 1957City of DenverMurderDaisie E. King, white (mother)John Graham, 1957 January 11Stephen McNicholsLeeRoy A. LeickWhite30January 22, 1960City of DenverMurderEvelyn Leick, white (wife)Lee Roy Leick, 1960 January 22David F. EarlyWhite28August 11, 1961ArapahoeMurder-BurglaryRegina Knight, whiteDavid Early, 1961 August 11Harold David WooleyWhite36March 9, 1962JeffersonMurder-RobberyWilliam Scott Wright, 37, whiteDavid Wooley, 1962 March 9Walter D. HammillWhite31May 25, 1962City of DenverMurderLester Gordon Brown Jr., 11, whiteWalter Hammill, 1962 May 25John Bizup Jr.White26August 14, 1964PuebloMurder-RobberyRoy Don Bussey, whiteJohn Bizup, 1964 August 14John A. LoveLuis MongeHispanic48June 2, 1967City of DenverMurderLeonarda Monge, Hispanic (wife)Luis Monge, CO, 1967 June 2Gary Lee DavisWhite53October 13, 1997AdamsMurder-Rape-KidnapVirginia May, 34, whiteRoy Romer
See also Capital punishment in Colorado Crime in Colorado
Notes
References