EXTREMELY SENSITIVE CONTENT – 18+ ONLY
This article provides a detailed account of the final 24 hours in the life of Arthur Frederick Goode III, one of the youngest prisoners ever sentenced to death in Florida, involving crimes of murder and child sexual abuse. The content is intended solely for educational and historical purposes, to promote understanding of the American criminal justice system during that era, the execution process, and the consequences of severe crimes. It is not intended to shock, glorify criminals, or promote violence in any form. All information is based on public records, trial reports, and official press documents from the 1980s.
The Final Moments in the 24 Hours of Arthur Goode – An Accurate Reenactment of the 24 Hours Before Execution
Arthur Frederick Goode III (born March 22, 1955) was sentenced to death for first-degree murder involving child sexual battery. The victim was Jason Charles Agee, a 9-year-old boy who was kidnapped, abused, and murdered in Florida in 1976. Goode was arrested in 1976, tried in 1977 in Sarasota County, and sentenced to death on July 29, 1977. After several failed appeals, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his final clemency petition in April 1984. The execution date was set for April 20, 1984, at Florida State Prison, Starke.
The Final 24 Hours – From the Evening of April 19 to the Morning of April 20, 1984
The following timeline is reconstructed based on prison records, official reports, and contemporary news articles (primarily from the St. Petersburg Times, Miami Herald, and Associated Press):
Evening of April 19, 1984 – Approximately 18:00 to 21:00 (Death Watch begins)
Goode was moved from Death Row to the holding cell immediately adjacent to the electric chair room.
He was served his requested last meal: a large pepperoni pizza, a can of Coca-Cola, and a Hershey’s chocolate bar. (This was a common choice for many death row inmates during that period.)
He declined to see a minister or priest but was permitted a 30-minute phone call to his family (his mother and sister). The call was recorded per prison regulations.
Goode spent much of the remaining time writing handwritten letters and reading the Bible (he frequently cited the Bible in his appeals).
Night of April 19, 1984 – Approximately 21:00 to 04:00
Goode did not sleep much. He continued to speak with guards and other inmates in the area (through vents or small windows).
He exhibited outward calmness, but according to guards, he had moments of trembling and repeated the phrase: “I don’t want to die.”
He refused the sedatives offered by the prison prior to the execution.
At approximately 3:30 AM, he was allowed a final shower and changed into the standard blue prisoner uniform (without a belt or shoelaces).
Morning of April 20, 1984 – 04:00 to 07:00
Around 04:00: Goode was led from the holding cell to the Witness Room to meet with witnesses (including prison officials, selected press representatives, and several legal officials).
He was permitted a final statement before being strapped into the electric chair.
Goode’s Final Statement (Recorded and quoted by the press):
“I want to tell the victim’s family that I am sorry for what happened. I don’t expect forgiveness. I committed a crime and I must pay the price. I hope God will forgive me. I love my family. Please take care of them.”
Execution – Approximately 07:01 AM, April 20, 1984
Goode was led into the execution chamber and strapped into “Old Sparky” (Florida’s infamous electric chair).
He did not resist, but according to witnesses, he trembled visibly as the straps were tightened and the headpiece was positioned.
At 07:01, a 2,000-volt current was surged through his body in three consecutive cycles (each lasting 2 minutes).
At 07:07, the prison physician confirmed his death.
The body was removed from the chamber and transported to the morgue for an autopsy.
Aftermath and Reactions
The execution was widely reported, with many articles focusing on Goode’s outward composure and his final apology. Supporters of the death penalty viewed it as justice served; opponents argued that executing someone so young (29 years old) with mental health issues was inhumane. Florida continued to use the electric chair until 2000, after which it switched to lethal injection.
The final 24 hours of Arthur Goode were a mixture of outward calm, moments of trembling, a simple meal, a final apology, and the execution via electric chair on the morning of April 20, 1984. It remains one of the most controversial death penalty cases of the 1980s in Florida, reflecting the justice system of that era and the ethical questions surrounding the death penalty for child sex offenders. The story continues to be cited in American capital punishment literature as an example of the state’s enforcement of justice for severe crimes.
Sources:
Florida Judicial Records: Sentencing and execution files for Arthur Goode III (Case No. 76-1088, Sarasota County).
St. Petersburg Times (now Tampa Bay Times): Articles dated April 20–21, 1984.
Miami Herald: Reports on the final statement and execution process.
Death Penalty Information Center: 1984 Florida execution records.
Associated Press & United Press International: Contemporary reports on the execution.
Archives of Florida State Prison: Electric chair execution documentation.