Desmond Keith Carter
Encyclopedia
Desmond Keith Carter was convicted of the 1992 murder of Helen Purdy and executed in 2002 by the State of North Carolina
at the Central Prison in Raleigh
.
Desmond Carter was born in the state of Rhode Island
and lived with his grandmother since his mother moved away when Carter was 3. Eventually, he moved with his grandmother to North Carolina.
Carter started using drugs as a teenager and on March 9, 1992, under the influence of alcohol, crack cocaine, and tranquilizers, killed his 71-year-old neighbor, Helen Purdy, by stabbing her 13 times with a butcher knife
, and robbed her of $15 in order to buy cocaine. Not long before Carter committed this crime, his grandmother had tried to get substance abuse
and mental health
treatment for him, but the hospital refused because he did not have medical insurance
coverage.
In July 1993, Carter was sentenced to death
for first degree murder and to 40 years imprisonment for robbery with a dangerous weapon. On the eve of his execution, Carter declined a special meal
. Instead, he bought two cheeseburgers, a steak sub, and two Cokes
from the prison canteen, for which he paid $4.20 from his prison account. He was executed by means of lethal injection
on December 10, 2002.
Carter mouthed "I love you, pop" to his father before the drug from the injection put him to sleep. In a statement that was recorded by the warden of Central Prison, Carter said: "The only thing I would like to say is that I apologize to the victim's family of Ms. Purdy and I would like to apologize to my family for the disappointment and pain I have caused them throughout my life."
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
at the Central Prison in Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
.
Desmond Carter was born in the state of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and lived with his grandmother since his mother moved away when Carter was 3. Eventually, he moved with his grandmother to North Carolina.
Carter started using drugs as a teenager and on March 9, 1992, under the influence of alcohol, crack cocaine, and tranquilizers, killed his 71-year-old neighbor, Helen Purdy, by stabbing her 13 times with a butcher knife
Butcher knife
A butcher knife is a knife designed and used primarily for the butchering and/or dressing of animals.During the late 18th century to mid 1840s, the butcher knife was a key tool for mountain men. Simple, useful and cheap to produce, they were used for everything from skinning beaver, cutting food,...
, and robbed her of $15 in order to buy cocaine. Not long before Carter committed this crime, his grandmother had tried to get substance abuse
Substance abuse
A substance-related disorder is an umbrella term used to describe several different conditions associated with several different substances .A substance related disorder is a condition in which an individual uses or abuses a...
and mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
treatment for him, but the hospital refused because he did not have medical insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
coverage.
In July 1993, Carter was sentenced to death
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
for first degree murder and to 40 years imprisonment for robbery with a dangerous weapon. On the eve of his execution, Carter declined a special 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...
. Instead, he bought two cheeseburgers, a steak sub, and two Cokes
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
from the prison canteen, for which he paid $4.20 from his prison account. He was executed by means of lethal injection
Lethal 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...
on December 10, 2002.
Carter mouthed "I love you, pop" to his father before the drug from the injection put him to sleep. In a statement that was recorded by the warden of Central Prison, Carter said: "The only thing I would like to say is that I apologize to the victim's family of Ms. Purdy and I would like to apologize to my family for the disappointment and pain I have caused them throughout my life."
See also
- Capital punishment in the United StatesCapital punishment in the United StatesCapital punishment in the United States, in practice, applies only for aggravated murder and more rarely for felony murder. Capital punishment was a penalty at common law, for many felonies, and was enforced in all of the American colonies prior to the Declaration of Independence...
- List of individuals executed in North Carolina
Sources
- Offender Profile data for offender 0068237. North Carolina Department of Correction (2002-12-10). Retrieved on 2007-08-12.
- Desmond Keith Carter - Chronology of Events. North Carolina Department of Correction (2002-12-10). Retrieved on 2007-08-12.
- Patrick O'Neill. Two families plead for relatives' lives. Independent Weekly (2002-12-04). Retrieved on 2007-08-12.
- Estes Thompson. Carter executed for stabbing death of elderly neighbor. The News & Observer (2002-12-10). Archived from the original on 2002-12-21. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.
- Desmond Keith Carter. The Clark County Prosecuting Attorney. Retrieved on 2007-08-12.
- Last Meals on Death Row (2002). Dead Man Eating. Retrieved on 2007-08-12.
- USA (North Carolina): Death penalty/legal concern: Desmond Keith Carter. Amnesty International (2002-11-05). Retrieved on 2007-08-12.