One of the most bizarre meal requests on death row in American history left prison staff feeling unsettled.
James Edward Smith, a 37 year old murderer, was executed on April 5, 1984, in Texas – a state where last meals for inmates facing the death penalty are now prohibited.
Smith, a former taxi driver who was imprisoned for murdering a life insurance company’s district manager, requested rhaeakunda dirt, which is believed to be consumed in voodoo rituals. Smith practiced these rituals while incarcerated.
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He believed that performing the voodoo ritual at the time of his death would enhance his chances of reincarnation. When his request was denied, he threatened to haunt the prison for 300 years.
In 2011, Texas prison officials ceased the practice of allowing condemned inmates to select their last meal following complaints about Lawrence Russell Brewer’s extravagant request, reports the Express US .