Disclaimer: This story was written for informational purposes only.
America’s Youngest Execution
On April 24, 1944, a 14-year-old boy was sentenced to die by electrocution and on June 16, 1944, the order was carried out.
The young teen, a mere 95 pounds, tucked a bible under his arm and walked into the execution chamber at the South Carolina State Penitentiary in Columbia. The boy of slight stature, dressed in a striped jumpsuit, was seated in the adult-sized electric chair. The discrepancy in dimensions forced adjustments to the electrodes.
Accounts of the execution vary. The story circulated that his Bible was used with other books to prop the boy higher up in the chair. The overly large hooded mask slipped off during the electrocution to reveal his tear-streaked face. These details were later contested by those who witnessed the execution.
The 14-year-old was pronounced dead on June 16, 1944. He was buried in an unmarked grave.
From start to tragic finish, and in the short span of 83 days, George Stinney Jr. was charged with murder, tried and convicted, and executed.