14 Facts About Daryl Holton

Daryl Keith Holton was a convicted child murderer who was executed by electrocution by the state of Tennessee on September 12,2007, in Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville.

Daryl Holton was divorced, and his ex-wife had custody of the children.

At his June 1999 trial, Daryl Holton declined to testify on his own behalf, although his attorney sought to convince the jury that Daryl Holton was mentally incompetent at the time of the killings.

Witnesses for the defense testified that Daryl Holton showed signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, although they could not definitively conclude that he had been exposed to carbon monoxide.

Psychiatrists for the state and the defense testified that Daryl Holton had major depressive disorder and passive-aggressive personality disorder at the time of the murders.

The jury rejected the insanity defense; Daryl Holton was found guilty and sentenced to death.

Daryl Holton declined to cooperate with the federally or state-appointed capital defenders who sought to offer him legal assistance and counsel.

Daryl Holton chose to die in the electric chair, rather than by lethal injection, which is the standard method of execution in Tennessee.

Daryl Holton was the first person to be executed by electrocution in Tennessee in 47 years.

Daryl Holton declined the traditional special last meal before his execution and instead, ate the regular prison meal which consisted of riblets on a bun, mixed vegetables, baked beans, white cake with white icing and iced tea.

Daryl Holton's was the fourth execution in Tennessee since 2000 and first by the electric chair since 1960.

Daryl Holton was the third death row inmate executed under administration of Governor Phil Bredesen.

Daryl Holton was the first American put to death by electrocution since July 20,2006.

Daryl Holton's case raised some controversy because of rumors about his history of mental illness.