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USA | The execution I witnessed haunts me. Biden, clear death row before Trump returns: Opinion

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Under Trump, there were 13 executions in his last six months as president. Biden must clear death row now to stop that and what Albert Camus described as the most cold-blooded premeditated murder. On Jan. 14, 2021, I stood in a small chamber in the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana, while the federal government carried out an execution. Relegated to a spot 6 feet away from the gurney, I prayed with Corey Johnson, the “Gentle Giant” as he was known on death row.  He was one of the last of 13 people executed under then-President Donald Trump, who carried out an unprecedented killing spree during the final six months of his presidency.

Idaho | Gerald Ross Pizzuto, Jr. scheduled to be executed on June 2

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Gerald Ross Pizzuto, Jr., is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, at the Idaho Maximum Security Prison in Kuna, Idaho. 

65-year-old Gerald is convicted of beating to death 58-year-old Berta Herndon and her nephew, 37-year-old Del Dean Herndon, at a mountain cabin near McCall, Idaho. 

Gerald has been on death row for the last 35 years.

Gerald had a sad childhood, as he was frequently beaten, allegedly leaving him brain damaged. 

Gerald also allegedly had a violent personality, according to his ex-wife. During their marriage, he was physically and verbally abusive, including pushing her down the stairs while she was pregnant and killing their pets. 

Gerald was also addicted to drugs and had health issues relating to his prolonged and excessive drug use.

On July 25, 1985, Gerald Pizzuto was camping with friends at a campsite in Ruby Meadows, near McCall, Idaho. 

Pizzuto approached Berta Herndon, and her nephew Del Dean Herdon with a rifle and forced them into their cabin, where Pizzuto tied them up. 

Pizzuto robbed them and left, returning later to beat them both over the head with a hammer. He eventually shot Del because Del did not die quickly from the hammer blows. 

Pizzuto later joked and bragged about the murders to those with whom he was camping. The group helped Pizzuto bury the bodies and took some of the stolen money.

Nearly 1 year later, in May 1986, Pizzuto was convicted and sentenced to death for the double murder and robbery. Those who helped bury the bodies were given prison terms.

Pizzuto is currently in poor health and battling bladder cancer in a hospice. He also has Type 2 diabetes and a variety of heart and lung diseases.


Source: theforgivenessfoundation.org, Staff, May 7, 2021


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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
Location: Idaho, USA
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