Cal Gaunt
A woman executed on death row performed a defiant final act before she was executed.
Lisa Montgomery befriended 23-year-old pregnant Bobbie Jo Stinnett and initially, they had bonded over their love of dogs.
On December 16, 2004, she went to Stinnett’s home, overpowered her, strangled her with a rope, and cut her unborn baby out of her womb.
Police found Montgomery cradling the newborn when they arrived at her home, and initially, they believed she had given birth the previous day.
Tragically, Stinnett had died from her injuries, but the baby was safely recovered and returned to her family.
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Montgomery’s fabrication was eventually exposed, and she confessed to the murder.
In 2007, she was tried and found guilty.
Montgomery received a lethal injection at a prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, in January 2021, becoming the first female federal inmate to be executed by the US government in 67 years.
Her death came after a last-minute stay of execution was lifted by the US Supreme Court.
Witnesses reported, via the BBC, that Montgomery’s face mask was removed during the execution process.
Her lawyer, Kelley Henry, condemned those involved in the execution, declaring that they should ‘feel shame’.
Henry stated: “The government stopped at nothing in its zeal to kill this damaged and delusional woman.
“Lisa Montgomery’s execution was far from justice.”But prior to her injection, though, Montgomery made a defiant gesture.
Montgomery’s defence team had argued that she suffered from mental illness due to a history of serious abuse during her childhood.
Her turbulent home life led her to marry at 18, but both her marriages were marred by abuse, as per The Guardian.
After giving birth to four children, Montgomery was sterilised.
Her defence team believed that the extreme violence and abuse she endured throughout her life constituted torture.
It was also claimed that she was suffering from psychosis and disconnected from reality at the time of her horrific crime.
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The case sparked a divide in public opinion, with some human rights groups opposing the death penalty for Montgomery.
However, Stinnett’s family argued that regardless of her mental health, the inmate should face capital punishment for the brutality of her crime.
Montgomery’s execution was postponed twice, first due to the pandemic and later by a judge who halted the scheduled injection until a mental competency hearing could take place, as per CNN.
Before her death aged 52, she performed one defiant final act.
When asked if she had any last words – a chance to show remorse – Montgomery simply responded: “No.”
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