SOUTH CAROLINA LAST MEAL
RICHARD LONGWORTH
April 15, 2005

...the two viewed a movie for a short time....

Last Meal: A hamburger, french fries and chocolate milkshake.

The skinny: Longworth was executed for the shooting deaths of two movie theater employees 14 years ago.

More skinny: Longworth and his co-defendant David Rocheville decided to go to a movie theater where they used to work and rob it. After entering the theater, Longworth took his handgun from his shoulder holster and gave it to Rocheville, and the two viewed a movie for a short time. They dragged an usher outside where Longworth pinned the man against a bar and Rocheville shot him in the head. The pair convinced a theater manager to let them back inside. They ordered the man at gunpoint to empty the safe and forced him into a van. After driving away from the theater, Longworth stopped and ordered the victim to get out, walk five paces, get on his knees and face forward. Rocheville then shot him in the head. Upon arrest, Longworth gave a complete confession. Rocheville was executed in 1999.

Last words and such: In the statement read by attorney David Belser, Longworth said he didn't pull the trigger but apologized to the victims' families. Longworth said he would not ask the victim's families for forgiveness, because he knew it wouldn't be granted. "I am morally and legally responsible for what happened," Longworth said in the statement. "I hope they also know how deeply, truly sorry I am for what I have done. I hope my death brings them the peace they deserve."

Factoids: Longworth was the...

14th murderer executed in U.S. in 2005
958th murderer executed in U.S. since 1976
1st murderer executed in South Carolina in 2005
33rd murderer executed in South Carolina since 1976

About ten people protested outside the Broad River Correctional Facility carrying signs denouncing the death penalty. Margaret Abbott said she's been protesting executions at the facility for ten years, and that she is a friend of Longworth's mother. "Execution is not a solution," Abbott said before Longworth was put to death. "It doesn't solve anything. It doesn't heal anybody. You've got victims on both sides."

DME sidebar: Prior to execution we received this e-mail..

Hey. I work for the firm representing Longworth. I know what he's eating before the state murders him. Do you think this kind of site is amusing or funny or what? What's the deal? What would you eat with 24 hours left to live?

mark

DME answers:

a) If you knew what Longworth was eating, why didn't you share it? That kind of scoop could put us on the map. Is there some kind of lawyer/chef/killer confidentiality thing?

b) Dictionary.com defines murder as "the unlawful killing of one human by another, especially with premeditated malice. " Since Longworth's punishment was lawful (the opposite of unlawful) it would not be a murder. One would think someone who works in a law office could grasp that subtle difference. Perhaps a law office that could understand the difference could have saved him.

c) The site is not meant to be amusing or funny. It reports the last meals of convicted killers and the crimes they committed. Nothing more, nothing less (other than an occasional thong sale).

d) What would we eat in our last 24 hours? That easy, young Mark. It is right there on page one of the 2004 Death Row Dining Guide. Please note: the Pepperoni Rolls are from Morgantown, WEST Virgina not Virgina as stated.

Finally, good luck with your next case defending a double murderer who blows off the heads of two young men justing starting the prime of their lives. Oh yeah, what was the name of the movie that the boys were watching before they blew off the heads of two young men justing starting the prime of their lives. That would be a real scoop.