Facts of Crime: During a ten-day period in September 1976 Washington committed a series of crimes which included three brutal murders.
On September 20, 1976, Washington and an accomplice stabbed to death a minister, David Pridgen. Three days later Washington broke into the house of Mrs. Katrina Birk. After binding Mrs. Birk and her three elderly sisters-in-law, he shot and stabbed each of them, killing Mrs. Birk and inflicting severe injuries upon the others.
Finally, on September 29th, Washington kidnapped Frank Meli, a twenty-year-old college student, and tied him to a bed with the help of two accomplices. After an attempt to extort ransom money from Meli's family failed, Washington stabbed him to death. Each of these criminal episodes involved a substantial degree of preparation and each included acts of theft.
On October 1, 1976, Washington surrendered to Dade County police after his two accomplices were arrested for the murder of Frank Meli. He voluntarily confessed to the crime in a lengthy statement to the police.
Victims: Daniel Pridgen, Frank Meli and Katrina Birk
Time of Death: 7:09 a.m.
Manner of execution: Electric Chair
Last Meal: Fried shrimp and oysters, french fries, lemonade, a half-pint of vanilla ice cream, hot rolls and ketchup.
Final Statement: "I would like to say to the families of all of my victims I'm sorry for all the grief and heartache I have brought to them. If my death brings any satisfaction, so be it. I'd like to say to all the guys on death row, don't bow to defeat, don't bow to a victory, don't bow to a defeat without a fight. I'm kind of nervous. That's all."
Co-defendants: Johnnie Gary Mills (Pridgen and Meli) - sentenced to life in prison; Nathaniel Taylor (Meli) - sentenced to life in prison.
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