Eric Wrinkles
Encyclopedia
Matthew "Eric" Wrinkles was a convicted multiple murderer, sentenced to death. He served 14 years at Indiana State Prison
located in Michigan City, Indiana
, where he was also executed on December 11, 2009.
On July 20, 1994, Wrinkles murdered his wife, Debra Jean Wrinkles, his brother-in-law Tony Fulkerson, and Fulkerson's wife, Natalie Fulkerson, at their residence in Evansville
. Debbie Wrinkles had been living with the Fulkersons since her separation from Wrinkles, along with their children. Wrinkles has blamed his actions on his addiction to methamphetamine
.
Days before the murders took place, Wrinkles' mother had made efforts to have him committed to a hospital due to his erratic behavior but was told that he didn't meet the criteria. About two weeks prior to the killings he had been briefly hospitalized at a different hospital before being released by a psychiatrist who determined he was not "gravely disabled."
On November 10, 2009, Wrinkles appeared as a guest from prison on a segment of The Oprah Winfrey Show
, where he was confronted by members of his victims' families.
. After all appeals had been exhausted, Wrinkles refused to seek clemency but also refused to sign a waiver of his right to a clemency hearing.
Wrinkles' execution took place as scheduled with a time of death of 12:39 AM CST on December 11, 2009. Wrinkles did not resist the execution process and denied his right to a final statement. Wrinkles' last meal
took place three days prior to his execution. It consisted of prime rib, loaded baked potato, pork chops with fries, rolls and two salads with ranch dressing. Indiana serves the traditional last meal three days prior to execution, maintaining that a condemned prisoner tends to lose appetite as the time of execution approaches.
Indiana State Prison
The Indiana State Prison is a maximum security Indiana Department of Corrections prison for adult males; however, minimum security housing also exists on the confines. It is located in Michigan City, Indiana, about east of Chicago. The average daily inmate population in November 2006 was 2,200. ...
located in Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City's origins date to 1830, when the land for the city was first purchased by Isaac C. Elston. Elston Middle School, formerly Elston High School, located at 317 Detroit St., is named after the founder....
, where he was also executed on December 11, 2009.
On July 20, 1994, Wrinkles murdered his wife, Debra Jean Wrinkles, his brother-in-law Tony Fulkerson, and Fulkerson's wife, Natalie Fulkerson, at their residence in Evansville
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
. Debbie Wrinkles had been living with the Fulkersons since her separation from Wrinkles, along with their children. Wrinkles has blamed his actions on his addiction to methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
.
Days before the murders took place, Wrinkles' mother had made efforts to have him committed to a hospital due to his erratic behavior but was told that he didn't meet the criteria. About two weeks prior to the killings he had been briefly hospitalized at a different hospital before being released by a psychiatrist who determined he was not "gravely disabled."
On November 10, 2009, Wrinkles appeared as a guest from prison on a segment of The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
, where he was confronted by members of his victims' families.
Execution
On November 3, 2009, the Indiana Supreme Court set the execution date for Wrinkles as December 11, 2009, by lethal injectionLethal injection
Lethal injection is the practice of injecting a person with a fatal dose of drugs for the express purpose of causing the immediate death of the subject. The main application for this procedure is capital punishment, but the term may also be applied in a broad sense to euthanasia and suicide...
. After all appeals had been exhausted, Wrinkles refused to seek clemency but also refused to sign a waiver of his right to a clemency hearing.
Wrinkles' execution took place as scheduled with a time of death of 12:39 AM CST on December 11, 2009. Wrinkles did not resist the execution process and denied his right to a final statement. Wrinkles' last meal
Last meal
The last meal is a customary part of a condemned prisoner's last day. Often, the day of, or before, the appointed time of execution, the prisoner receives a last meal, as well as religious rites, if they desire. In the United States, inmates generally may not ask for an alcoholic drink...
took place three days prior to his execution. It consisted of prime rib, loaded baked potato, pork chops with fries, rolls and two salads with ranch dressing. Indiana serves the traditional last meal three days prior to execution, maintaining that a condemned prisoner tends to lose appetite as the time of execution approaches.