List of people executed in Nebraska


The following is a list of people executed by the U.S. state of Nebraska since its statehood.

Post-''Gregg''

Four people convicted of murder have been executed by Nebraska since 1976. Three were executed by electrocution. On April 21, 2011, the Nebraska Supreme Court set the first execution date via lethal injection for June 14, 2011. On May 26, 2011, the Nebraska Supreme Court stayed the execution due to objections that the sodium thiopental that Nebraska purchased from a Mumbai company failed to comply with U.S. pharmaceutical standards. The state's first lethal injection was carried out on August 14, 2018.
NameRaceAgeSexDate of executionCountyMethodVictimGovernor
1Black43MSeptember 2, 1994DouglasElectrocutionJane McManusBen Nelson
2White33MJuly 17, 1996SarpyElectrocutionDanny Eberle and Christopher WaldenBen Nelson
3Black61MDecember 2, 1997LancasterElectrocutionCatherine Brooks and Patricia McGarryBen Nelson
4White60MAugust 14, 2018DouglasLethal injectionMaynard D. Helgeland and Reuel Eugene Van Ness Jr.Pete Ricketts

Pre-''Furman''

Before 1903

The first execution in Nebraska reportedly was of Cyrus Tator, a former Kansas Legislature member and judge in Lykins County, Kansas who was tried and convicted of murdering his business partner in 1863. Before 1903, counties carried out executions until the state took over. Since Nebraska statehood in 1867, a total of 14 people have been executed.
NameRaceAgeDate of executionMethodCrimeVictimsUnder Governor
Stephen D. RichardsWhite23April 26, 1879HangingMurderPeter Anderson and Harlson familySilas Garber
Orlando CaslarWhite32May 20, 1879HangingMurderGeorge L. MonroeAlbinus Nance
Milton W. SmithWhiteJuly 24, 1885HangingMurderHis wife James W. Dawes
Jim ReynoldsWhiteMay 21, 1886HangingMurderJames and John PinkstonJames W. Dawes
William Jackson MarionWhiteMarch 25, 1887HangingMurderJohn CameronJohn Milton Thayer
David HoffmanWhiteJuly 22, 1887HangingMurderJames B. DeWittJohn Milton Thayer
Albert HaunstineWhiteMay 17, 1891HangingMurderHiram Roten and William AshleyJohn Milton Thayer
Christian FurstWhiteJune 5, 1891HangingMurderCarl J. PulsiferJohn Milton Thayer
Charles ShepherdWhiteJune 5, 1891HangingMurderCarl J. PulsiferJohn Milton Thayer
Ed NeilOctober 9, 1891HangingMurderAllen and Dorothy JonesJohn Milton Thayer
Clinton E. DixonJune 24, 1892HangingMurderCorporal Thomas CarterJames E. Boyd
Harry HillWhiteMarch 1, 1895HangingMurderMattes AkesonSilas A. Holcomb
Claude H. HooverAugust 7, 1896HangingMurderSamual DuBoisSilas A. Holcomb
George W. MorganOctober 8, 1897HangingMurderIda GaskillSilas A. Holcomb

1903–1972

A total of 20 people were executed by Nebraska after 1897 and before the 1972 Supreme Court capital punishment ban.
NameRaceAgeDate of executionMethodCrimeVictimsUnder Governor
Gottlieb NeigenfiendWhite28March 13, 1903HangingMurderAnna Bryer and Albert Bryer John H. Mickey
William RheaWhite20July 10, 1903HangingMurder-RobberyHerman Wilhelm F. Zahn, 34, whiteJohn H. Mickey
Harrison ClarkBlackDecember 13, 1907HangingMurder-RobberyEdward Flury, 47/48, whiteGeorge L. Sheldon
Frank BarkerWhiteJanuary 17, 1908HangingMurderDaniel and Alice Barker George L. Sheldon
Robert M. ShumwayWhiteMarch 5, 1909HangingMurder-RapeSarah E. Martin, 62, whiteAshton C. Shallenberger
Bert M. TaylorWhite38January 28, 1910HangingMurder-RapePearl Florence Taylor, 17, white Ashton C. Shallenberger
Thomas JohnsonBlackMay 19, 1911HangingMurder-RobberyHenry R. FranklandChester H. Aldrich
Albert PrinceBlack28March 21, 1913HangingMurderEdward D. Davis, 63, white John H. Morehead
Allen V. GrammerWhite24December 20, 1920ElectrocutionMurderLulu Vogt Samuel R. McKelvie
Alson B. ColeWhite24December 20, 1920ElectrocutionMurderLulu Vogt Samuel R. McKelvie
James B. KingBlack33June 9, 1922ElectrocutionMurderRobert L. Taylor, 54, white Samuel R. McKelvie
Walter R. SimmonsWhite27August 11, 1925ElectrocutionMurder-RobberyFrank Herman Pahl, 47/48, whiteAdam McMullen
Henry E. BartlettWhite37April 29, 1927ElectrocutionMurderAsa Ranson Adam McMullen
Frank CarterWhite49June 24, 1927ElectrocutionMurderWilliam McDevitt and Dr. A.D. SearlesAdam McMullen
Frank E. SharpWhite51October 19, 1928ElectrocutionMurderAmanda Harriet Ostblom Sharp, 46, white Adam McMullen
Henry J. ShermanWhite21May 31, 1929ElectrocutionMurder-RapeThree people, whiteArthur J. Weaver
Joseph T. MacAvoyWhite25March 23, 1945ElectrocutionMurder-RapeAnna Milroy, 16, whiteDwight Griswold
Timothy Iron BearNative American24December 1, 1948ElectrocutionMurder-RobberyJohn Wiley Stollar and Grace B. Stollar, 59, and 60, whiteVal Peterson
Roland Dean SundahlWhite21April 30, 1952ElectrocutionMurder-Attempted rapeBonnie Lou Merrill, 16, whiteVal Peterson
Charles StarkweatherWhite20June 25, 1959ElectrocutionMurderRobert Jensen, 17, whiteRalph G. Brooks