List of people executed in New Mexico


A total of 103 executions have been recorded in New Mexico: four during the Spanish Colonial era, none during the Mexican era, 51 during the Territorial era, 20 by the U.S. Military during the Taos Rebellion, 27 between 1913 and 1960, when the death penalty was removed except for the murder of a police officer, and one since 1976, when the death penalty was reinstated; it remained until March 18, 2009, when Governor Bill Richardson signed a bill abolishing capital punishment into law after many struggles with the issues in previous weeks. Following this repeal, Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White began a campaign to reinstate the practice by referendum.
Ninety-four of the executions were by hanging, seven by electrocution, one by the lethal gas, and one by lethal injection. Two of the hanged, "Black Jack" Ketchum in 1901 and Lucius Hightower in 1916, were accidentally decapitated by the noose due to their weight. The death sentences of five convicts were commuted by Governor Toney Anaya in 1986, on the eve of Thanksgiving.
The following is a list of the 28 executions carried out by the state of New Mexico since 1912. All of those executed were men and all of them were executed for first degree murder.
NameRaceAgeDate of executionMethodMurder victimUnder Governor
Ivory FrazerWhiteApril 25, 1913, 4:52 AMHangingDeputy sheriff Thomas Hall, 47, and Special Deputy Sheriff A.L. SmithersWilliam C. McDonald
Francisco GranadoHispanicApril 25, 1913, 4:52 AMHangingWilliam S. ClarkWilliam C. McDonald
Demecio DelgadilloHispanic32May 16, 1913, 5:09 AMHangingSoledad Zarrazino de PinoWilliam C. McDonald
Francisco AlvarezHispanicJune 9, 1916Hanging24 people in the raid led by Pancho Villa on Columbus, New MexicoWilliam C. McDonald
Juan SanchezHispanicJune 9, 1916Hanging24 people in the raid led by Pancho Villa on Columbus, New MexicoWilliam C. McDonald
Taurino GarciaHispanicJune 30, 1916Hanging24 people in the raid led by Pancho Villa on Columbus, New MexicoWilliam C. McDonald
Eusiero RenteriaHispanicJune 30, 1916Hanging24 people in the raid led by Pancho Villa on Columbus, New MexicoWilliam C. McDonald
Juan CastilloHispanicJune 30, 1916Hanging24 people in the raid led by Pancho Villa on Columbus, New MexicoWilliam C. McDonald
Jose RangelHispanicJune 30, 1916Hanging24 people in the raid led by Pancho Villa on Columbus, New MexicoWilliam C. McDonald
Lucius HightowerWhiteNovember 13, 1916HangingMrs. HightowerWilliam C. McDonald
Julian RomeroHispanicApril 11, 1918HangingMaria Varela de JaureWashington E. Lindsey
Elbert BlancettHispanicJuly 20, 1920HangingClyde D. AmourOctaviano Larrazolo
Eleuterio CorralHispanicJanuary 20, 1922HangingVentura BencomoMerritt C. Mechem
Rumaldo LosanoHispanicJanuary 20, 1922HangingVentura BencomoMerritt C. Mechem
Luis MedranoHispanicJuly 28, 1922HangingAnton CouryMerritt C. Mechem
Ysidero MirandaHispanicJuly 28, 1922HangingAnton CouryMerritt C. Mechem
Carlos RenteriaHispanicJuly 28, 1922HangingAnton CouryMerritt C. Mechem
Stephen KatonkaWhite40October 20, 1922HangingWilliam Kelly, Sam GroyMerritt C. Mechem
Francisco VaisaHispanic25April 6, 1923, 5:30 AMHangingAnton CouryJames F. Hinkle
Thomas JohnsonBlack42July 21, 1933, 12:38 AMElectrocutionAngelina Jaramillo, 18 Arthur Seligman
Santiago GardunoHispanic49July 21, 1933, 1:12 AMElectrocutionFilemon Martinez, 16 Arthur Seligman
Pedro TalamanteHispanic54May 10, 1946, 12:10 AMElectrocutionAntonia Talamante, 25 John J. Dempsey
Louis YoungBlack47June 13, 1947, 12:07 AMElectrocutionEloise Kennedy, 23 Thomas J. Mabry
Arthur Fay JohnsonWhite57February 19, 1954, 12:09 AMElectrocutionWilliam Cabrel, 59 Edwin L. Mechem
Frederick W. HeislerWhite33October 29, 1954, 12:15 AMElectrocutionJohn Gunnish, 39 Edwin L. Mechem
James Larry UptonWhite22February 12, 1956, 12:09 AMElectrocutionDonald Dilley, 18 John F. Simms
David Cooper NelsonWhite39January 8, 1960, 12:20 AMLethal gasRalph Henderson Rainey, 46 John Burroughs
Terry D. ClarkWhite45November 6, 2001, 7:10 PMLethal injectionDena Lynn Gore, 9 Gary Johnson