Death row inmates in Texas no longer get a last meal because of one man's very specific request

One of the last things many people on death row have control over is the last meal they eat - but in Texas, they don't even have that.

The tradition to allow people scheduled for execution to choose their last meal is one held in a lot of places that still have the death penalty.

The stipulation has resulted in killers like Brian Dorsey indulging in meals like his two cheeseburgers, two large French fries, two orders of chicken strips and a sausage, pepperoni, onion, mushrooms and extra cheese pizza.

But in Texas, inmates facing their last days on Earth aren't able to push the boat out with their final meal, and it's all because of one man.

The state banned last meals in 2011 following the execution of Lawrence Russell Brewer, a white supremacist who was jailed along with three other men for murdering James Byrd Jr. in 1998.

Brewer and his accomplice, John King, were the first white men to receive the death penalty for killing a Black man in modern Texas; a case which caused the state to introduce new laws around hate crimes.

Brewer was executed in 2011. (Buck Kelly/Getty Images)

As was tradition at the time, prison guards asked Brewer what he'd like to eat for his last meal - and he didn't waste the opportunity.

According to a report from Jacksonville.com, Brewer asked for practically enough food to make a buffet, including two chicken fried steaks, a triple-meat bacon cheeseburger, fried okra, a pound of barbecue, three fajitas and a meat lover's pizza.

He didn't stop there, as the inmate also asked for some sweet treats to round off the meal, including a pint of ice cream and a slab of peanut butter fudge with crushed peanuts.

The prison delivered on his request - but then revealed that Brewer didn't eat any of it, instead claiming he wasn't hungry.

Brewer's decision not to eat sparked outrage. (Getty Stock Photo)

Brewer's refusal sparked frustration from Texas senator John Whitmire, who wrote a letter to the executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to say: "It is extremely inappropriate to give a person sentenced to death such a privilege."

The director agreed the senator's concerns were valid, and thus ended the 87-year tradition of allowing death row inmates in Texas to choose their last meal.

"Effective immediately, no such accommodations will be made," he said. "They will receive the same meal served to other offenders on the unit."

Whitmire told The Associated Press at the time the decision was 'long overdue'.

Topics: Death Row, Food and Drink, Texas, US News, True crime

Emily Brown

Emily Brown is UNILAD Editorial Lead at LADbible Group. She first began delivering news when she was just 11 years old - with a paper route - before graduating with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University. Emily joined UNILAD in 2018 to cover breaking news, trending stories and longer form features. She went on to become Community Desk Lead, commissioning and writing human interest stories from across the globe, before moving to the role of Editorial Lead. Emily now works alongside the UNILAD Editor to ensure the page delivers accurate, interesting and high quality content.