Patrick Bryan Knight, "Dead Man Laughing" is Executed by Texas
Concerned for "Innocent on Death Row"
Knight had gained notoriety for his "Dead Man laughing" campaign in which he solicited jokes to read as his last statement. His Myspace site, which was maintained by his anti-death penalty friend, received 30,000 page views, and hundreds of friend adds and comments in less than a month. Knight received over a thousand jokes by mail. Capital-"X" a death penalty opponent and rap artist, recorded an original song titled "Dead Man Laughing" and it has been playing on the Myspace page.
When asked for his last statement, Knight thanked God for his friends and asked for help for the innocent on death row, according to Michael Graczyk, Associated Press reporter who was witness to the execution. He named several men, but the names were not printed. An emotional Knight stated, "Not all of us are innocent, but those are". He went on to say, "I said I was going to tell a joke. Death has set me free. That's the biggest joke. I deserve this." and also stated "And the other joke is that I am not Patrick Bryan Knight and y'all can't stop the execution now. Go ahead, I'm finished".
Michelle Lyons who is prison spokesperson said "we fingerprint them when they come over" and disputed the mistaken identity claim.
It was not reported if there were any witnesses in the death chamber from either side, nor was it reported if Knight was granted a last meal.
Knight, 39, had said in an earlier interview with the media that the inmates on death watch were in need of jokes, and some humor "to ease the tension", and that is mainly what started the Dead Man Laughing Campaign.
He admits to drinking and doing drugs when he was young. Knight was 23 when the crime was committed, and said he didn't remember much about the murder. Knight and the Werner's had argued as neighbors about his loud music and loud cars, and Knight said of the Werner's "I regret so much because they were such good people", I'm the cause of this crime, no doubt about it" he said, "It bothers me I might be capable of taking someone's life", reported by Michael Graczyk, Associated Press.
On Monday night KDOL radio station, "All Life Is Precious" held a "Shout Out Show" for Knight. Knight was allowed to call in and say his good-byes to his friends and thank them for their support. Numerous friends and concerned people called in the show to say goodbye, or "shout out" to Patrick. Music that was chosen especially for Knight was played throughout the program. "All Life Is Precious" hosts a special show for every inmate who is to be executed.
Knight was reported by friends to have been visited hours before his execution, and seemed in good spirits. It was also reported by friends that the guards were being good to him. Throughout all the media attention Knight always claimed to have no disrespect for the victims. Knight had several nicknames he was called by his friends, Mutt-Dog, The Insane -Cajun, Worm-Dirt, and "Dead Man Laughing".
Sources:
http://www.alllifeisprecious.org/
Published by Dee
I am a prison activist/advocate writing about prison issues, hoping to make awareness, and bring reform. One out of every thirty-two people in the USA are currently on parole, probation or in prison. I am ow... View profile
- Possible Lethal Injection Cocktail Change Dr. Jay Chapman, developer of the lethal injection cocktail, has recently announced that maybe it's time to change the cocktail to more effective and efficient drugs.
-
Lethal Injection is Anything but Humane
A large debate is entering the public eye, is that the use of lethal injection to execute death row prisoners is comparable to torture.
- Lethal Injection May Cause Horrific Pain and Slow Suffocation A new study shows that the long-accepted practice of lethal injection may cause some prisoners to experience excruciating pain and live suffocation when put to death.
- Ohio Death Row Inmates Claim Lethal Injection Unconstitutional Suit Claims Lethal Injection Violates Ohio's Constitutional Ban on Cruel and Unusual Punishment
- Death by Lethal Injection: Does the Physician Contradict the Hippocratic Oath? When a criminal is put to death by lethal injection, a physician is required to assist in the process. Opponents of the death penalty cite this is a violation of the Hippocratic Oath.
- Texas Executes Second Inmate This Week, More to Follow
- Death Row Inmate Wishes to Be 'Dead Man Laughing'
- Man Shot on Grand Prairie Interstate in Texas Dies
- Last Statements from Executed Offenders in Texas in 2007
- Supreme Court Rejects Execution of Mentally Retarded Killer
- Legal Execution in Criminal Law
- Execution Rituals
- Knight asks for help for the innocent on death row
- Knight was the 18th inmate executed this year in Texas
- Knight was known for the "Dead Man Laughing" campaign
7 Comments
Post a CommentThese were Patrick Knights last words.. and he did give names. This is posted on TDCJ Death Row website..when asked if he wished to leave a last statement he stated:
Yes, I do. I thank the Lord for giving me my friends, for getting me the ones I love. Lord reach down and help innocent men on death row. Lee Taylor needs help, Bobby Hines, Steve Woods. Not all of us are innocent, but those are. Cleve Foster needs help. Melyssa, I love you girl. I know I wasn't going to say anything, but I've got to. Jack, Irene, Danny, Doreen, I love you guys. I said I was going to tell a joke. Death has set me free. That's the biggest joke, I deserve this. And the other joke is I am not Patrick Bryan Knight, and ya'll can't stop this execution now. Go ahead, I'm finished. Come on, tell me Lord. I love you Melyssa, take care of that little monster for me.
I am a retired police officer from Kansas, now living in Texas. One thing that I have learned through the years is that everyone is capable of either great kindness or great cruelty and the only thing that determines what the order of the day will be are time, condition, and place. I had the pleasure of conversing with Patrick a couple of time and He seemed like a decent guy, but so did some of the "decent" people that I met in my journey as a police officer of thirty years. I think that Patrick understood why he was where he was and accepted that, which puts Him on the path of redemption. He will be o.k I believe that putting people away for their entire lives is a better option than killing them and would probably do more to stop most homicides than executing them, but we unfortunately leave that option up to our corrupt "leaders", who have their own ax to grind. What fools they are.
He is free now, from life, pain, and his regrets of the past. To Angel in Heaven, that is why I refuse to be a part of the "Christian" faith. The Bible says to not judge thus you be judged, yet way too many "Christians" are always putting others down. Even Jesus himself sat among the sinners. The posts from the original story Dee wrote proves that too many "Chrisitans" are incapable of this. Blessed Be, Patrick!
I have posted his actual "Last words" on the Myspace site for everyone to read.
Thank you Dee for this article & thank you Patrick for your precious last words. Now you are free my friend. RIP
Is true not all the inmates there are guilty, there are some innocents too. He thanks God for his friends and ask for help for those innocents. RIP he is Free now. I recieved some nasty comments for my postings about Patrick.. I leave everything in God Hands as a Christian I believe in life in prison, kill a person to show the world that kill is wrong...is an act of vengance. The state is the worse killer they kill for money, they are serial killers. Kill a death row inmate is not going to stop the crime,is not going to bring the victims back, and they suffer more if they received life in prison... they will have time for life to think about what they did.
You did a nice job with this article!