Tennessee death row inmate requests pickled pig knuckles for final meal before execution by electric chair
He previously opted not to order a last meal
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Tennessee death row inmate has chosen pickled pig knuckles and pig tails as his last meal before he is executed by electric chair on Thursday.
Edmund Zagorski, who was sentenced to death in 1984 for killing two men during a drug deal, will get to enjoy the bizarre meal before his scheduled execution.
Inmates are typically allowed $20 towards their final meals.
The 63-year-old inmate, who was moved to death watch, a three-day period before an execution, earlier this week, was originally meant to die by lethal injection on October 11, according to the Tennessean.
However, the convicted killer requested that he instead be executed by electric chair because it is “the lesser of two evils” and to avoid the “unspeakable” torture of a death by lethal injection, according to his lawyer.
On the original date of his scheduled execution, Zagorski had told prison officials that he did not want a last meal.
At the time, the Tennessee Department of Correction said: “Should he change his mind and want to have dinner, his meal will be the same as the one provided to the other inmates at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution.”
Despite his wishes, fellow inmates at Riverbend Maximum Security Institute reportedly pooled resources to buy Zagorski pizza, according to the Tennessean.
Last meal requests from inmates have included KFC fried chicken to ribeye steak, cooked medium rare.
Inmate Victor Feguer ate a single olive with a pit before his execution in 1963.
The last inmate to request death by electric chair was Robert Gleason, Jr in Virginia who was put to death on January 16 2013.
In Tennessee, there has not been an execution by electrocution since 2007.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments