Rainey Bethea

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Rainey Bethea
Born	c. October 16, 1909 Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.
Died	August 14, 1936(1936-08-14) (aged 26) Owensboro, Kentucky, U.S.
Cause of death	Execution by hanging
Resting place	Rosehill Elmwood Cemetery
Known for	Being the final person to be publicly executed in the United States
Criminal status	Executed (August 14, 1936; 88 years ago (1936-08-14))
Conviction(s)	Rape[a]
Criminal penalty	Death 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.

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