Rainey Bethea

Rainey Bethea
Bornc. October 16, 1909
DiedAugust 14, 1936(1936-08-14) (aged 26)
Cause of deathExecution by hanging
Resting placeRosehill Elmwood Cemetery
Known forBeing the final person to be publicly executed in the United States
Criminal statusExecuted (August 14, 1936; 88 years ago (1936-08-14))
Conviction(s)Rape[a]
Criminal penaltyDeath by hanging

Rainey Bethea (c. 1909[b] – August 14, 1936), was the last person publicly executed in the United States.[1] Bethea, who confessed to the rape and killing of a 70-year-old woman named Lischia Edwards, was convicted of her rape and publicly hanged in Owensboro, Kentucky.


Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).

  1. ^ "Kentucky Death Penalty Timeline". Death Penalty Information Center. Retrieved June 29, 2024.