EXTREMELY SENSITIVE CONTENT – 18+ ONLY:
This article discusses sensitive historical events related to capital punishment in the United States, including acts of judicial violence and execution. The content is presented for educational purposes only, to foster understanding of the past and encourage reflection on how societies can prevent similar injustices in the future. It does not endorse or glorify any form of violence or extremism.
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Ronnie Lee Gardner (January 16, 1961 – June 18, 2010) was an American criminal convicted of capital murder for killing attorney Michael Burdell during a 1985 courthouse escape attempt while on trial for another murder (bartender Melvyn Otterstrom in 1984). After nearly 25 years of appeals, Gardner chose execution by firing squad—the last in the U.S.—and was put to death at Utah State Prison in Draper at age 49. His case, dragging through courts for decades, prompted Utah’s legislature to limit appeals in capital cases.
Gardner’s final 24 hours were marked by calm resignation, a last meal of steak and lobster (part of a 48-hour fast), family visits, and watching “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Awakened at midnight for the 12:15 a.m. procedure, he was strapped to a black metal chair, hooded, and shot by five marksmen (one with a blank), pronounced dead at 12:17 a.m. This execution, Utah’s first in 14 years, sparked debates on methods and mercy.
Examining it objectively reveals the human drama of prolonged death row, the ethics of choice in execution methods, and systemic delays, underscoring the need for justice reforms and prevention through addressing crime’s roots like poverty and abuse.
Ronnie Lee Gardner’s final 24 hours began in the afternoon of June 17, 2010, on death row at Utah State Prison. Having exhausted appeals—including denials from the U.S. Supreme Court and Governor Gary Herbert—he spent time with spiritual advisors and family, reportedly calm and accepting his fate after choosing firing squad over lethal injection (an option available due to his pre-1996 sentencing).
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Gardner requested and received a special last meal around evening: steak, lobster tail, apple pie, vanilla ice cream, and 7-Up, which he enjoyed while watching the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy—a marathon viewing reflecting his desire for distraction amid reflection. He began a 36-hour fast from solid food leading up to the execution, drinking only liquids, possibly for spiritual or personal reasons.
Emotional visits filled the day: family, including his brother Randy Gardner (who later reflected on the ordeal’s pain), bid tearful goodbyes. Protests outside the prison drew crowds opposing the execution, emphasizing its rarity and archaic method. Gardner declined sedatives, preferring alertness.
As midnight approached on June 18, Gardner napped briefly before being awakened at exactly 12:00 a.m. for preparations. Escorted to the execution chamber—a converted cannery—he was strapped to a black metal winged chair on a raised platform, wearing a dark jumpsuit with no shoes. A white target was pinned over his heart; he was blindfolded with a hood.
Witnesses (nine media members and others, including victims’ relatives) observed from separate rooms. At 12:15 a.m., five anonymous marksmen—four with live .30-caliber rounds, one with a blank—fired simultaneously (“ba-boom” sound), the bullets tearing into his chest. Gardner jerked forward; pronounced dead at 12:17 a.m., two minutes later. No last words were spoken; the process was swift, with the curtain closing after four minutes.
Gardner’s body was autopsied and released for burial. His brother Randy later shared the family’s pain, noting the execution’s emotional toll.
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Gardner’s crimes: In 1984, he killed bartender Melvyn Otterstrom during a robbery. In 1985, during a court hearing for that murder, he attempted escape, shooting and killing attorney Michael Burdell and wounding bailiff Nick Kirk.
This execution, Utah’s third by firing squad since 1977 reinstatement, was the last in the U.S., as Utah abolished it in 2015 (except for pre-2004 sentences).
Ronnie Lee Gardner’s final 24 hours—from family visits and a movie marathon to a midnight awakening and firing squad death—encapsulated the end of a life defined by violence and prolonged legal battles. His calm demeanor amid the ordeal reflected resignation after decades on death row. By reflecting objectively, we confront the death penalty’s delays and humanity, reinforcing the need for swift, fair justice and prevention through addressing social factors like poverty. This history inspires reforms to limit appeals while ensuring due process, ensuring societies learn from such cases to build systems that prioritize rehabilitation over retribution.
Sources
ABC News: “Ronnie Lee Gardner Executed by Firing Squad in Utah” (2010)
KUER: “What a witness remembers about Utah’s 2010 execution” (2024)
BBC News: “How and why Gardner was shot” (2010)
Reddit (r/serialkillers): “Ronnie Lee Gardner’s last meal” (2020)
YouTube: “Brother of last executed Utahn reflects” (2024)
Clark County Prosecuting Attorney: “Ronnie Lee Gardner #1217”
Deseret News: “Ronnie Lee Gardner’s life ends with hardly a word” (2010)
Additional historical references from academic sources on U.S. executions.