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Tennessee's Oldest Death Row Inmate Executed for Brutal 1989 Killings
24 Aug
Summary
- Oscar Franklin Smith, 75, executed in May 2022 for 1989 murders
- Stabbed and shot estranged wife and her two teenage sons
- Maintained innocence until the end, criticized justice system
In May 2022, Tennessee's oldest death row inmate, Oscar Franklin Smith, was executed for the brutal 1989 murders of his estranged wife, Judith, and her two teenage sons, Jason and Chad. Smith, who was 75 years old at the time, had been sentenced to death in 1990 for the gruesome killings.
The crimes occurred in October 1989, when Smith stabbed and shot Judith, 13-year-old Jason, and 16-year-old Chad at their Nashville home. Judith had recently separated from Smith, and prosecutors alleged that he had taken out life insurance policies on all three victims. Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Smith pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence until the very end.
In his final moments, Smith delivered a defiant statement criticizing the government, the legal system, and Tennessee's governor, who had previously halted his execution. As he lost consciousness, Smith uttered the haunting words, "I didn't kill her, I didn't kill her," referring to his estranged wife. The victims' family continues to carry the pain of their tragic loss, with Judith's sister and brother expressing their ongoing grief and the belief that no one should have to live in fear like their sister did.
