Before receiving a lethal injection, a woman who strangled a pregnant mother and abducted her baby said a single chilling word.
Lisa Montgomery, known as the ‘womb raider,’ was executed for her crimes, making her the sole female inmate on federal death row. Her case generated controversy due to claims of mental illness and childhood abuse presented by her defense team.
In 2007, Montgomery was convicted of kidnapping and strangling Bobbie Jo Stinnett, who was eight months pregnant, and then removing the unborn baby from her womb. The baby, named Victoria Jo by her father Zeb, survived the horrific ordeal.
Initially attempting to pass off the baby as her own, Montgomery’s deception was quickly exposed. When confronted by the police holding the newborn she claimed to have given birth to, her lies unraveled, leading to her confession and subsequent death sentence.
Montgomery’s execution, delayed twice due to Covid and a court ruling, finally took place after a Supreme Court decision. She was administered a lethal injection on January 12, 2021.
During the execution, witnesses reported that a woman next to Montgomery removed her face mask and asked if she had any final words. Montgomery simply replied “no,” offering no further statements.
Previously held in a Texas federal prison for female inmates with special needs, Montgomery had been under psychiatric care. Following the confirmation of her execution date, she was placed on suicide watch in solitary confinement.
Before her execution, Montgomery’s family appealed to President Donald Trump for clemency, citing her severe mental health issues stemming from a history of abuse, including rape and torture.
Lisa’s sister, Diane Mattingly, expressed a desire for mercy, highlighting Montgomery’s troubled past and advocating for a commuted sentence to life in prison instead of death.
According to her lawyer Kelley Henry, Montgomery’s mental state deteriorated due to the immense guilt she carried for her actions. Henry emphasized Montgomery’s deep remorse and the severe psychological impact of her traumatic life experiences.
Following the execution, Henry criticized all involved, stating that those participating should feel ashamed. She condemned Montgomery’s execution as a miscarriage of justice, portraying her as a profoundly damaged and delusional individual.
The last woman executed in the U.S. before Montgomery was Bonnie Headie in 1954, who died in a gas chamber in Missouri, as reported by the Death Penalty Information Center.
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