Most UGLIEST Women That Got Executed In DEATH ROW Of ALL TIME
Teresa Lewis was put to death by lethal injection for hiring someone to kill her husband and her stepson. “Barrette, mercy—the same mercy that God has continued to give me… having someone tell me that you’re guilty of a crime that I know that I was never ever there for…”
When her fingers put the baby inside her coat and she went out the door, got into a new vehicle, and drove off… “I’m sorry… I had been with him for almost six years; I wasn’t expecting it to burn him, I’m sure. Oh gosh.” Unveiling the chilling tales of the darkest souls, witness the stories of the “ugliest” women on Death Row, where horror and justice collide in an eerie symphony of twisted fate.
Number 15: Teresa Lewis
Teresa Lewis, a name associated with controversy and capital punishment, found herself at the center of a highly debated case as the only woman on Death Row in Virginia. Lewis’s story attracted significant attention due to her physical appearance and the crimes she committed. This account aims to provide an unbiased look at Teresa Lewis’s case, focusing on her background, crimes, legal proceedings, and the ethical questions raised by her conviction.
Teresa Lewis was born on April 26, 1969, in Danville, Virginia. Throughout her life, she faced various challenges, including a limited education and a troubled personal life. Her low self-esteem and susceptibility to manipulation made her an easy target for individuals seeking to exploit her vulnerability. It is essential to recognize that evaluating someone solely on their physical appearance is an unjust approach that fails to consider the complexities of their character.
In 2002, Teresa Lewis orchestrated a plot to slay her husband, Julian Lewis, and her stepson, Charles Lewis. She enlisted the help of Matthew Shallenberger, a 25-year-old man with a history of mental health issues, and Rodney Fuller, a 19-year-old acquaintance. The motive behind the killings was primarily financial gain, as Teresa stood to benefit from her husband’s life insurance policy.
Teresa was put to death by lethal injection for hiring two men to kill her family members. Lewis pleaded guilty in 2003. In a request for clemency, supporters noted she only had an IQ of 72, just two points above the legal minimum for execution in Virginia. On the fateful day of October 30, 2002, Shallenberger and Fuller entered the Lewis residence and shot Julian and Charles multiple times. The hired hitmen were apprehended soon after the crime, leading to the discovery of Teresa’s involvement.
Number 14: Tiffany Cole
Tiffany Cole, born on December 3, 1981, is an American woman often labeled in these circles due to her involvement in a high-profile “murder-for-hire” case that placed her on Death Row in Florida. Her case has attracted significant media attention regarding her role and culpability in the crime.
In 2005, Cole, along with three co-conspirators, planned and executed a meticulously calculated abduction and slaying plot. The target was Cole’s former housemate, Carol Bagley, and her husband, Reggie. Cole had become familiar with the Bagleys’ home and their financial situation, which motivated her involvement. On the evening of July 8, 2005, Cole and her accomplices abducted the Bagleys from their home in Jacksonville, Florida, at gunpoint. The couple was bound with duct tape, placed in the trunk of their car, and driven to a remote location in Georgia. There, they were buried alive in a pre-dug grave.
The motive was financial gain; they planned to steal the Bagleys’ assets and bank accounts. In 2007, Cole was found guilty of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and kidnapping. She was sentenced to death, marking her as one of the youngest women on Death Row in Florida.
Number 13: Linda Carty
Linda Carty, born on October 5, 1958, is a British national who became one of the most notable women on Death Row in the United States. Her case has drawn international attention regarding the fairness of the criminal justice system.
Carty’s involvement dates back to May 16, 2001, in Houston, Texas. She was accused of orchestrating a plot to kidnap and kill her neighbor, Joanna Rodriguez, in order to steal her newborn baby. Carty, along with three accomplices, invaded Rodriguez’s apartment, bound her, and abducted her along with the baby. Tragically, Rodriguez was suffocated with a plastic bag and left to die in the trunk of a car; however, the baby was ultimately rescued unharmed.
Carty maintains her innocence, claiming she was framed. One of the key issues in her case was the inadequate legal representation she received during her trial. Her defense team was accused of failing to present crucial evidence. She was sentenced to death in 2002.
Number 12: Lisa Montgomery
Lisa Montgomery, born on February 27, 1968, gained infamy for a highly disturbing crime that shocked the nation. Her case revolves around the brutal slaying of Bobby Joe Stinnett, a pregnant woman, in December 2004.
Under the pretense of being interested in purchasing a puppy, Montgomery gained access to Stinnett’s home in Skidmore, Missouri. Once inside, Montgomery attacked Stinnett, strangled her, and then proceeded to perform a crude Cesarean section to forcibly remove the unborn child from the victim’s womb. Montgomery then abducted the baby, intending to pass her off as her own child.
Montgomery’s trial delved into her history of severe mental illness, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. Despite the defense’s arguments regarding her diminished capacity, she was found guilty of federal kidnapping resulting in death. In 2007, she was sentenced to death.
Number 11: Brach-Marie Rotiers
Brach-Marie Rotiers spent 12 years on Death Row in California for her involvement in a horrific crime alongside her boyfriend, Omar Tyree Hutchinson, and a female friend. They devised a plan to lure two men, aged 22 and 28, into a hotel room with the intention of robbing them.
Once inside the room, Rotiers and her accomplices brandished guns, forcing the victims to undress before tying them up. In a truly gruesome act, they proceeded to physically attack and strangle the helpless men. Rotiers, in particular, took an active role, using women’s lingerie and electric cables as instruments of torture. While her accomplices received life sentences, Rotiers was held primarily responsible and sentenced to death.
Number 10: Wanda Jean Allen
Wanda Jean Allen, born on August 17, 1959, in Oklahoma City, became a central figure in debates surrounding the death penalty. She was the first Black woman to be executed since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976.
Allen’s life was marked by a challenging upbringing and persistent mental health struggles. On December 11, 1981, during a heated argument, she fatally shot her longtime partner, Gloria Leathers. In 1982, Allen was found guilty of first-degree murder. Her defense team contended that her intellectual deficiencies should have been taken into account. Despite numerous appeals, she was executed by lethal injection on January 11, 2001.
Number 9: Tanya Nelson
Tanya Jamie Nelson was convicted on February 16, 2010, for the brutal slaying of Ha Jade Smith and her daughter, Annie Devoe. The motive was revenge. Nelson had enlisted the help of Smith and Devoe in an attempt to win back her ex-lover, but when they failed to achieve the outcome, her frustration turned sinister.
On April 21, 2005, Nelson and an accomplice traveled to the victims’ home in Westminster, California. Armed with knives, Nelson mercilessly attacked them. Smith was stabbed multiple times and left to bleed to death on the kitchen floor. Devoe met a similar tragic end in the laundry room. To cover their tracks, they poured white paint over the bodies. Nelson was caught after using the victims’ credit cards for a shopping spree. She was sentenced to death in 2010.
Number 8: Cathy Sarinana
Cathy Sarinana and her husband, Raul Sarinana, were sentenced to death for heinous crimes involving the passing of brothers Ricky and Conrad. The brothers suffered from a troubled upbringing marked by neglect and abuse. Under the care of Cathy and Raul, they experienced severe physical misuse. Conrad was found murdered, and Ricky died from his injuries. Both Cathy and Raul were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in California.
Number 7: Judy Buenoano
Judy Buenoano, formerly known as Judias Welty, was an American woman whose crimes in the 1980s earned her the reputation of the “Black Widow.” Her involvement in the murders of her family members and romantic partners shocked the nation. She resorted to poisoning, explosives, and drowning to carry out her deeds.
In 1984, she was convicted of first-degree murder for the death of her son, Michael, whom she poisoned with arsenic. She was also linked to the death of her husband and an attempted murder of her fiancé. On March 30, 1998, Buenoano was executed via the electric chair at Florida State Prison. She uttered no final words, leaving the world in a chilling silence.
Number 6: Christina Riggs
Christina Riggs was convicted for the tragic slaying of her two young children. Born in 1971 in Arkansas, Riggs grew up in a challenging environment characterized by domestic violence and instability. She grappled with depression and anxiety throughout her life.
On November 4, 1997, Riggs smothered her five-year-old son, Justin, with a plastic bag. She then turned her attention to her two-year-old daughter, Shelby, and suffocated her as well. Following the killings, Riggs attempted suicide by consuming various medications but survived. During the trial, she asked for the death penalty. In 1998, she was found guilty and sentenced to death. She was executed by lethal injection on May 2, 2000.
Number 5: Emilia Carr
Emilia Carr’s case attracted significant media attention due to the brutal nature of the crime. In February 2009, Carr, along with her boyfriend, Joshua Fulgham, orchestrated a plan to rob and kill Heather Strong, the wife of Carr’s ex-boyfriend.
The motive was believed to be financial gain. They lured Strong to a remote location, bound her with zip ties, and suffocated her with a plastic bag. They then buried her body in a shallow grave. In 2010, Carr was found guilty of first-degree murder and kidnapping. She was sentenced to death, making her one of the few women on Death Row in Florida.
Number 4: Velma Barfield
Velma Barfield was an American serial killer born in 1932. Her criminal activities began with stealing prescription drugs but escalated to a series of poisonings between 1974 and 1978. Her weapon of choice was arsenic.
Her victims included her mother, Dolly Edwards, two husbands, and her fiancé. She poisoned them to collect life insurance money or to cover up thefts. Barfield initially denied the charges but later confessed, attributing her behavior to drug addiction. She was executed by lethal injection on November 2, 1984, in North Carolina, marking the first time a woman was executed in the U.S. since the reinstatement of the death penalty.
Number 3: Michelle Lynn Michaud
In 2002, Michelle Lynn Michaud and her former lover, James Anthony Daveggio, were found guilty of kidnapping, physical attack, and first-degree murder. In 1997, the duo abducted 22-year-old Vanessa Lay Simpson. They imprisoned her inside a van equipped with hooks and ropes, turning it into a “chamber of horrors.”
Vanessa was subjected to relentless torture and physical abuse before her lifeless body was discarded on a snowy embankment. On September 25, 2002, both Michaud and Daveggio were sentenced to death for their abhorrent actions.
Number 2: Maureen McDermott
In 1985, Maureen McDermott, a former nurse, orchestrated a plan to have her roommate, Stephen Eldridge, murdered. McDermott, aged 37, hired a co-worker for the task to collect on a $100,000 mortgage insurance policy on their co-owned house.
Eldridge was brutally stabbed 44 times. McDermott did not testify during her trial, and her lawyers argued she had no involvement. However, her accomplice testified against her. She was convicted and sentenced to die in the gas chamber. She remains on Death Row, having been convicted in 1990.
Number 1: Margaret Allen
On February 8, 2005, Margaret Allen, a 39-year-old mother, allegedly murdered her friend and housekeeper, Wendy. The motive was an accusation that Wendy had stolen $2,000 from Margaret’s purse.
Before the killing, Wendy was subjected to hours of torture. Margaret reportedly put her feet on Wendy’s neck and poured bleach on her face, neck, and head. This prolonged abuse ultimately led to Wendy’s death. Margaret and her roommates then buried the body in a shallow grave. On May 19, 2011, Margaret was sentenced to death for her involvement in the slaying. She currently awaits execution on Death Row.
