Wesley Purkey, a 68-year-old death row inmate, made an unfortunate mistake with his last meal request before his execution. His case remains one of the most talked-about due to the painful way he died.
A Brutal Crime
Purkey was sentenced to death in 2004 for the kidnapping and murder of 16-year-old Jennifer Long in 1998. He lured her outside a supermarket into his pickup truck, where he attacked and later killed her. Afterward, he dismembered her body and buried her remains in a pond. Her body was never found.

That same year, he also murdered 80-year-old Mary Bales, a polio patient, after going to her home for a repair job. Neighbors alerted the police, leading to his arrest. He was sentenced to life in prison for Bales’ murder but received the death penalty for Jennifer’s case.
On July 16, 2020, Purkey was executed by lethal injection at the Federal Correctional Complex in Indiana. His autopsy revealed that he suffered from severe pulmonary edema, meaning fluid filled his lungs, causing a drowning sensation. Experts describe this as one of the most painful ways to die.
Dr. Gail Van Norman explained, “Most prisoners experience extreme suffering, including the feeling of drowning and suffocation.”

Purkey was reportedly suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s before his execution.
For his final meal, he requested pecan pie. However, he made a mistake—he asked to eat it “later”, not realizing there wouldn’t be a later.
Before his execution, Purkey apologized, saying, “I deeply regret the pain I caused to Jennifer’s family. I am deeply sorry.” He also mentioned his daughter, saying, “This execution serves no purpose.”

Jennifer Long’s father, William, watched the execution and stated, “He needed to take his last breath. He took my daughter’s last breath.” He added, “There is no closure, but there is some resolve.”