Kenneth Edward Gentry was an American criminal who was executed on April 16, 1997 for the murder of 23-year-old Jimmy Don Ham. The crime took place in Lewisville, Texas

Lewisville, Texas

Lewisville is a city in Denton County in the U.S. state of Texas. The 2010 United States Census placed the population at 95,290 within . The city also includes of Lewisville Lake....

 in 1983. Gentry previously escaped from a Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

 prison in July, 1982 and was attempting to throw authorities off by assuming Ham's identity. He had been serving 10 years in prison for assault before his escape.

Prior to his execution, Gentry issued the following final statement

Final statement

When a criminal is convicted and sentenced to capital punishment, the criminal can make a final statement, or his "last words", before being executed. Much of the time, the last word is an apology to family, friends, or God. Sometimes though, a final statement includes words of hatred, disgust, or...

: I'd like to thank the Lord for the past 14 years (on death row) to grow as a man and mature enough to accept what's happening here tonight. To my family, I'm happy. I'm going home to Jesus. As the lethal drugs began to flow, Gentry cried out: Sweet Jesus, here I come. Take me home. I'm going that way to see the Lord.

His 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...

 was a combination of butter beans, mashed potatoes, onions, tomatoes, biscuits, chocolate cake and Dr. Pepper.