Random Famous American Criminals Who Were Executed (44 items)

(#6) Robert Alton Harris
- Dec. at 39 (1953-1992)
Robert Alton Harris killed two teenage boys in 1978 in order to steal their car and to rob a bank. He stole $2,000 from the bank but was arrested soon after. One of the arresting officers was the father of one of the murdered boys.

He was executed on April 21, 1992, after misquoting Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey.
(#13) George Atzerodt
- Dec. at 30 (1835-1865)
George Atzerodt was one of the many conspirators who assisted John Wilkes Booth in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He was supposed to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson, but his nerves failed him.

Still, he was executed in 1865 by hanging.
(#27) Harry Pierpont
- Dec. at 32 (1902-1934)
Harry Pierpont made his place in history for being a mentor of notorious criminal John Dillinger. However, it was his own crime spree that ended with his death sentence.

Pierpont made multiple escape attempts. His last attempt left him so crippled that he had to be carried to the electric chair. He was executed on October 17, 1934.
(#33) William Bonin
- Dec. at 49 (1947-1996)
William Bonin, otherwise known as the Freeway Killer, raped, tortured, and murdered at least 21 young men and boys between 1979 and 1980.

He was executed on February 23, 1996 by lethal injection. He was not remorseful for his crimes, and filed many appeals against his conviction.
(#17) Nathan Hale
- Dec. at 21 (1755-1776)
Nathan Hale is most famous for his final words, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

During the American Revolution, he was executed for spying on the British and was hanged on September 22, 1776.
(#3) John Wayne Gacy
- Dec. at 52 (1942-1994)
Famous for his reputation of dressing up like a clown for fundraisers and children events, John Wayne Gacy killed and sexually assaulted at least 33 young men between 1972 and 1978.

He was sentenced to death for 12 of his murders and spent 14 years on death row. On May 10, 1994, he was executed by lethal injection.