The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has this sidebar on the execution of women in America.
Thirty-eight states and the U.S. government have the death penalty. No woman has been executed by the federal government in almost 53 years, but state executions have become more common, especially in the South.
Eleven women have been put to death by six states since 1984.
The most recent was Frances E. Newton, 40, in Texas. She was convicted of shooting her husband and two children, a 7-year-old son and 21-month-old daughter, to collect life insurance policies. The state executed her Sept. 14, 2005, more than 18 years after the killings.
In spite of the execution, there were significant questions about Newton's innocence. Mishandling of evidence by court officials made forensics testing not conducted for the trial impossible.
Here is the breakdown of executions of women:
Texas - 3
Oklahoma - 3
Florida - 2
Alabama - 1
Arkansas - 1
North Carolina - 1
The sidebar is associated with this article on an Ohio case.
More on the topic information can be found at the Death Penalty Information Center. LINK
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