98:
The murder was committed on a judicial officer, former judicial officer, prosecutor, or former prosecutor while such prosecutor, former prosecutor, judicial officer, or former judicial officer was engaged in the performance of such person's official duties or where a major part of the motivation for
154:
to have one built, but his request was denied. Two men were awaiting execution in 1942, but the state did not have an electric chair available. The warden of the South Dakota State
Penitentiary, William Jamerson, traveled to Vermont in 1942, seeking to borrow that state's electric chair for use in
162:
However, the two death sentences were commuted and no executions occurred in it in South Dakota. South Dakota returned the
Illinois electric chair after receiving clearance from the War Production Board to obtain materials necessary to build their own electric chair in February, 1944.
83:
First-degree murder is a Class A Felony in South Dakota, punishable by death or life imprisonment without parole. It is the only Class A Felony in the state and can be punished with death if (and only if) it involves any of the following aggravating factors:
155:
anticipated executions in South Dakota, however it was determined that a difference in electrical conditions in South Dakota would preclude use of the
Vermont chair. The warden was able to convince the state of Illinois to lend their electric chair from
30:
As of
November 2019, five condemned, all white males, have been executed since capital punishment was reinstated in the state in 1979; two of those cases were prisoners who waived their normal appeals and chose to be put to death.
170:, who was put to death on April 8, 1947, at the South Dakota State Penitentiary. South Dakota was the second-to-last state to adopt electrocution as an execution method, and Sitts' execution was South Dakota's last until after
91:
The defendant by the defendant's act knowingly created a great risk of death to more than one person in a public place by means of a weapon or device which would normally be hazardous to the lives of more than one
88:
The murder was committed by a person with a prior record of conviction for a Class A or Class B felony, or the offense of murder was committed by a person who has a felony conviction for a crime of violence;
1485:
116:
The murder was committed against a law enforcement officer, employee of a corrections institution, or firefighter while engaged in the performance of such person's official duties;
986:
122:
The murder was committed for the purpose of avoiding, interfering with, or preventing a lawful arrest or custody in a place of lawful confinement, of the defendant or another;
1432:
188:
death penalty statute. It was the first act he signed as governor. All subsequent executions have been by lethal injection. The first occurred in 2007 with the execution of
1442:
1376:
689:
146:
became the sole method. The procurement of an electric chair proved difficult for the State: in 1942, as United States entered the Second World War, the warden of the
1521:
275:"23A-27A-4. Aggravating circumstance and recommendation of death penalty required for Class A felony death sentencing--Life imprisonment--Bench trial or guilty plea"
1412:
1490:
1475:
1422:
991:
549:
210:
1371:
1366:
1361:
1356:
1351:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1321:
1316:
1311:
1306:
1301:
1296:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1261:
1256:
1251:
1233:
1196:
476:
1243:
1437:
694:
138:
in 1889, and 10 men between that time and the abolition of South Dakota's death penalty in 1915. Each of these death sentences were carried out by
1495:
1480:
1041:
384:
119:
The murder was committed by a person in, or who has escaped from, the lawful custody of a law enforcement officer or place of lawful confinement;
1465:
1402:
964:
95:
The murder was committed for the benefit of the defendant or another, for the purpose of receiving money or any other thing of monetary value;
1035:
974:
343:
451:
1516:
1417:
274:
744:
599:
434:
260:
1176:
1141:
296:
409:
1223:
1121:
1086:
929:
1016:
1181:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1146:
675:
205:
318:
1096:
1021:
854:
99:
the offense came from the official actions of such judicial officer, former judicial officer, prosecutor, or former prosecutor;
50:
during the penalty phase of the trial, a life sentence is issued, even if a single juror opposed death (there is no retrial).
1218:
1131:
1126:
1011:
235:
1186:
1076:
949:
894:
859:
1407:
1213:
1156:
1136:
1111:
1101:
1091:
1081:
1071:
1051:
1026:
1006:
934:
839:
799:
666:
102:
The defendant caused or directed another to commit murder or committed murder as an agent or employee of another person;
1228:
1208:
1106:
1056:
1031:
1001:
996:
889:
884:
864:
634:
1191:
1116:
1066:
959:
814:
729:
196:. As of 2024, only one death row inmate, Briley Piper, who was also Elijah Page's co-defendant remains on death row.
574:
1470:
1046:
849:
844:
719:
109:, depravity of mind, or an aggravated battery to the victim. Any murder is wantonly vile, horrible, and inhuman if
553:
1203:
1151:
1061:
939:
904:
809:
784:
539:“Unmarked Grave Will Hold Remains of Three-Time Killer George Sitts”, Rapid City Journal, 1947, April 8, pp. 1–1.
147:
64:
1526:
924:
874:
829:
819:
804:
794:
779:
759:
734:
724:
714:
156:
503:"Vermont Electric Chair Can't Be Used By South Dakota”, Burlington Vermont Free Press, 1942, July 14, pp. 2–2.
944:
919:
824:
764:
739:
709:
699:
879:
834:
774:
749:
704:
530:“Sitts May Be First to Die in Electric Chair in State”, Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, 1946, March 22, pp. 1-1.
909:
789:
754:
193:
125:
The murder was committed in the course of manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing illegal substances.
1392:
954:
914:
869:
769:
47:
388:
1531:
1449:
68:
512:“Electric Chair Is Here - Illinois Men Set It Up", Sioux City Argus-Leader, 1942, August 5, pp. 1-1.
521:"State Obtains Equipment for Electric Chair", Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, 1944, February 9, pp. 18-18
178:
54:
659:
351:
189:
455:
135:
215:
1397:
151:
644:
8:
413:
652:
105:
The murder was outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible, or inhuman in that it involved
17:
613:
593:
428:
322:
254:
618:
481:
72:
239:
143:
1510:
39:
When the prosecution seeks the death penalty, the sentence is decided by the
181:
167:
110:
23:
319:"Frequently Asked Questions: Capital Punishment:: SD Dept. Of Corrections"
578:
166:
The only person ever to be judicially electrocuted in South Dakota was
1427:
60:
139:
106:
344:"Methods of Execution | Death Penalty Information Center"
159:
674:
57:
has the power of clemency with respect to death sentences.
40:
75:
is the only method of execution provided by statutes.
1443:
White defendants executed for killing a black victim
134:
South Dakota executed four men between 1877 and its
614:"A history of capital punishment in South Dakota"
192:. Only four others have been executed since, the
1522:Capital punishment in the United States by state
1508:
446:
444:
379:
377:
1481:National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
142:. The death penalty was reinstated in 1939 and
567:
1486:Supreme Court decisions on capital punishment
660:
441:
374:
635:"Lone SD death row inmate fights sentencing"
667:
653:
477:"Appeal for Electric Chair Refused by WPB"
452:"South Dakota DOC-FAQ-Capital Punishment"
211:List of death row inmates in South Dakota
297:"§ 3. Powers and duties of the Governor"
21:is a legal penalty in the U.S. state of
676:Capital punishment in the United States
206:List of people executed in South Dakota
111:the victim is less than 13 years of age
1509:
1433:Participation of medical professionals
598:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
433:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
371:South Dakota Codified Laws § 23A-27A-1
259:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
648:
13:
1517:Capital punishment in South Dakota
632:
14:
1543:
78:
1471:Death Penalty Information Center
129:
34:
1476:Most recent executions by state
626:
606:
542:
533:
524:
515:
506:
497:
469:
148:South Dakota State Penitentiary
65:South Dakota State Penitentiary
402:
365:
336:
311:
289:
267:
228:
1:
221:
194:most recent occurring in 2019
7:
1438:Race and capital punishment
199:
184:signed South Dakota's post-
10:
1548:
550:"Americas Electric Chairs"
385:"Regional Studies Central"
1491:Women executed since 1976
1458:
1408:Dual sovereignty doctrine
1385:
1242:
973:
682:
1413:Execution drug shortage
43:and must be unanimous.
136:admission to the union
1527:Crime in South Dakota
216:Crime in South Dakota
150:sought help from the
1398:Death-qualified jury
1377:Scheduled executions
622:. November 14, 2019.
348:Deathpenaltyinfo.org
177:On January 1, 1979,
152:War Production Board
1450:Wrongful executions
299:. sdlegislature.gov
277:. sdlegislature.gov
1496:Women on death row
1393:Botched executions
987:Federal government
690:Federal government
63:is located at the
18:Capital punishment
1504:
1503:
1466:Death row inmates
1386:Issues and ethics
157:Stateville Prison
1539:
1532:South Dakota law
1234:Washington, D.C.
965:Washington, D.C.
669:
662:
655:
646:
645:
639:
638:
630:
624:
623:
619:Associated Press
610:
604:
603:
597:
589:
587:
586:
577:. Archived from
571:
565:
564:
562:
561:
552:. Archived from
546:
540:
537:
531:
528:
522:
519:
513:
510:
504:
501:
495:
494:
492:
490:
482:The Daily Illini
473:
467:
466:
464:
463:
454:. Archived from
448:
439:
438:
432:
424:
422:
421:
412:. Archived from
406:
400:
399:
397:
396:
387:. Archived from
381:
372:
369:
363:
362:
360:
359:
350:. Archived from
340:
334:
333:
331:
330:
321:. Archived from
315:
309:
308:
306:
304:
293:
287:
286:
284:
282:
271:
265:
264:
258:
250:
248:
247:
238:. Archived from
232:
73:Lethal injection
1547:
1546:
1542:
1541:
1540:
1538:
1537:
1536:
1507:
1506:
1505:
1500:
1454:
1381:
1238:
978:
976:
969:
678:
673:
643:
642:
631:
627:
612:
611:
607:
591:
590:
584:
582:
575:"Archived copy"
573:
572:
568:
559:
557:
548:
547:
543:
538:
534:
529:
525:
520:
516:
511:
507:
502:
498:
488:
486:
485:. July 10, 1942
475:
474:
470:
461:
459:
450:
449:
442:
426:
425:
419:
417:
410:"Archived copy"
408:
407:
403:
394:
392:
383:
382:
375:
370:
366:
357:
355:
342:
341:
337:
328:
326:
317:
316:
312:
302:
300:
295:
294:
290:
280:
278:
273:
272:
268:
252:
251:
245:
243:
236:"Archived copy"
234:
233:
229:
224:
202:
132:
81:
37:
12:
11:
5:
1545:
1535:
1534:
1529:
1524:
1519:
1502:
1501:
1499:
1498:
1493:
1488:
1483:
1478:
1473:
1468:
1462:
1460:
1456:
1455:
1453:
1452:
1447:
1446:
1445:
1435:
1430:
1425:
1420:
1415:
1410:
1405:
1400:
1395:
1389:
1387:
1383:
1382:
1380:
1379:
1374:
1369:
1364:
1359:
1354:
1349:
1344:
1339:
1334:
1329:
1324:
1319:
1314:
1309:
1304:
1299:
1294:
1289:
1284:
1279:
1274:
1269:
1264:
1259:
1254:
1248:
1246:
1240:
1239:
1237:
1236:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1216:
1211:
1206:
1201:
1200:
1199:
1189:
1184:
1179:
1177:South Carolina
1174:
1169:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1149:
1144:
1142:North Carolina
1139:
1134:
1129:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1099:
1094:
1089:
1084:
1079:
1074:
1069:
1064:
1059:
1054:
1049:
1044:
1039:
1029:
1024:
1019:
1014:
1009:
1004:
999:
994:
989:
983:
981:
971:
970:
968:
967:
962:
957:
952:
950:American Samoa
947:
942:
937:
932:
927:
922:
917:
912:
907:
902:
897:
895:South Carolina
892:
887:
882:
877:
872:
867:
862:
860:North Carolina
857:
852:
847:
842:
837:
832:
827:
822:
817:
812:
807:
802:
797:
792:
787:
782:
777:
772:
767:
762:
757:
752:
747:
742:
737:
732:
727:
722:
717:
712:
707:
702:
697:
692:
686:
684:
680:
679:
672:
671:
664:
657:
649:
641:
640:
633:Warden, Beth.
625:
605:
566:
541:
532:
523:
514:
505:
496:
468:
440:
401:
373:
364:
335:
310:
288:
266:
226:
225:
223:
220:
219:
218:
213:
208:
201:
198:
144:electric chair
131:
128:
127:
126:
123:
120:
117:
114:
103:
100:
96:
93:
89:
80:
79:Capital crimes
77:
36:
33:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1544:
1533:
1530:
1528:
1525:
1523:
1520:
1518:
1515:
1514:
1512:
1497:
1494:
1492:
1489:
1487:
1484:
1482:
1479:
1477:
1474:
1472:
1469:
1467:
1464:
1463:
1461:
1457:
1451:
1448:
1444:
1441:
1440:
1439:
1436:
1434:
1431:
1429:
1426:
1424:
1421:
1419:
1416:
1414:
1411:
1409:
1406:
1404:
1401:
1399:
1396:
1394:
1391:
1390:
1388:
1384:
1378:
1375:
1373:
1370:
1368:
1365:
1363:
1360:
1358:
1355:
1353:
1350:
1348:
1345:
1343:
1340:
1338:
1335:
1333:
1330:
1328:
1325:
1323:
1320:
1318:
1315:
1313:
1310:
1308:
1305:
1303:
1300:
1298:
1295:
1293:
1290:
1288:
1285:
1283:
1280:
1278:
1275:
1273:
1270:
1268:
1265:
1263:
1260:
1258:
1255:
1253:
1250:
1249:
1247:
1245:
1241:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1224:West Virginia
1222:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1205:
1202:
1198:
1195:
1194:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1185:
1183:
1180:
1178:
1175:
1173:
1170:
1168:
1165:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1135:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1122:New Hampshire
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1087:Massachusetts
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1070:
1068:
1065:
1063:
1060:
1058:
1055:
1053:
1050:
1048:
1045:
1043:
1040:
1037:
1033:
1030:
1028:
1025:
1023:
1020:
1018:
1015:
1013:
1010:
1008:
1005:
1003:
1000:
998:
995:
993:
990:
988:
985:
984:
982:
980:
972:
966:
963:
961:
958:
956:
953:
951:
948:
946:
943:
941:
938:
936:
935:West Virginia
933:
931:
928:
926:
923:
921:
918:
916:
913:
911:
908:
906:
903:
901:
898:
896:
893:
891:
888:
886:
883:
881:
878:
876:
873:
871:
868:
866:
863:
861:
858:
856:
853:
851:
848:
846:
843:
841:
840:New Hampshire
838:
836:
833:
831:
828:
826:
823:
821:
818:
816:
813:
811:
808:
806:
803:
801:
800:Massachusetts
798:
796:
793:
791:
788:
786:
783:
781:
778:
776:
773:
771:
768:
766:
763:
761:
758:
756:
753:
751:
748:
746:
743:
741:
738:
736:
733:
731:
728:
726:
723:
721:
718:
716:
713:
711:
708:
706:
703:
701:
698:
696:
693:
691:
688:
687:
685:
683:Jurisdictions
681:
677:
670:
665:
663:
658:
656:
651:
650:
647:
636:
629:
621:
620:
615:
609:
601:
595:
581:on 2015-05-23
580:
576:
570:
556:on 2008-05-14
555:
551:
545:
536:
527:
518:
509:
500:
484:
483:
478:
472:
458:on 2008-04-07
457:
453:
447:
445:
436:
430:
416:on 2008-02-23
415:
411:
405:
391:on 2008-10-17
390:
386:
380:
378:
368:
354:on 2008-07-03
353:
349:
345:
339:
325:on 2015-02-26
324:
320:
314:
298:
292:
276:
270:
262:
256:
242:on 2008-04-21
241:
237:
231:
227:
217:
214:
212:
209:
207:
204:
203:
197:
195:
191:
187:
183:
180:
175:
173:
169:
164:
160:
158:
153:
149:
145:
141:
137:
130:Early history
124:
121:
118:
115:
112:
108:
104:
101:
97:
94:
90:
87:
86:
85:
76:
74:
70:
66:
62:
58:
56:
51:
49:
46:In case of a
44:
42:
35:Legal process
32:
28:
26:
25:
20:
19:
1418:Exonerations
1197:2020–present
1182:South Dakota
1172:Rhode Island
1167:Pennsylvania
1147:North Dakota
900:South Dakota
899:
890:Rhode Island
885:Pennsylvania
865:North Dakota
628:
617:
608:
583:. Retrieved
579:the original
569:
558:. Retrieved
554:the original
544:
535:
526:
517:
508:
499:
487:. Retrieved
480:
471:
460:. Retrieved
456:the original
418:. Retrieved
414:the original
404:
393:. Retrieved
389:the original
367:
356:. Retrieved
352:the original
347:
338:
327:. Retrieved
323:the original
313:
301:. Retrieved
291:
279:. Retrieved
269:
244:. Retrieved
240:the original
230:
185:
182:Bill Janklow
176:
171:
168:George Sitts
165:
161:
133:
82:
59:
52:
45:
38:
29:
24:South Dakota
22:
16:
15:
1097:Mississippi
1022:Connecticut
960:Puerto Rico
815:Mississippi
730:Connecticut
489:October 29,
190:Elijah Page
69:Sioux Falls
67:located in
1511:Categories
1219:Washington
1132:New Mexico
1127:New Jersey
1012:California
930:Washington
850:New Mexico
845:New Jersey
720:California
637:. KDLT-TV.
585:2015-06-15
560:2008-05-14
462:2008-04-19
420:2008-04-19
395:2008-05-05
358:2016-07-21
329:2015-03-17
246:2008-04-19
222:References
1428:Last meal
1423:Juveniles
1187:Tennessee
1077:Louisiana
940:Wisconsin
905:Tennessee
810:Minnesota
785:Louisiana
303:April 16,
281:April 16,
61:Death row
48:hung jury
1214:Virginia
1157:Oklahoma
1137:New York
1112:Nebraska
1102:Missouri
1092:Michigan
1082:Maryland
1072:Kentucky
1052:Illinois
1036:pre-1972
1027:Delaware
1017:Colorado
1007:Arkansas
992:Military
979:executed
975:Lists of
925:Virginia
875:Oklahoma
855:New York
830:Nebraska
820:Missouri
805:Michigan
795:Maryland
780:Kentucky
760:Illinois
735:Delaware
725:Colorado
715:Arkansas
695:Military
594:cite web
429:cite web
255:cite web
200:See also
179:Governor
55:governor
1244:By year
1229:Wyoming
1209:Vermont
1107:Montana
1057:Indiana
1042:Georgia
1032:Florida
1002:Arizona
997:Alabama
945:Wyoming
920:Vermont
825:Montana
765:Indiana
745:Georgia
740:Florida
710:Arizona
700:Alabama
140:hanging
107:torture
92:person;
1403:Debate
1162:Oregon
1117:Nevada
1067:Kansas
977:people
880:Oregon
835:Nevada
775:Kansas
750:Hawaii
705:Alaska
186:Furman
172:Furman
1459:Other
1192:Texas
1047:Idaho
910:Texas
790:Maine
755:Idaho
1372:2024
1367:2023
1362:2022
1357:2021
1352:2020
1347:2019
1342:2018
1337:2017
1332:2016
1327:2015
1322:2014
1317:2013
1312:2012
1307:2011
1302:2010
1297:2009
1292:2008
1287:2007
1282:2006
1277:2005
1272:2004
1267:2003
1262:2002
1257:2001
1252:2000
1204:Utah
1152:Ohio
1062:Iowa
955:Guam
915:Utah
870:Ohio
770:Iowa
600:link
491:2020
435:link
305:2017
283:2017
261:link
53:The
41:jury
1513::
616:.
596:}}
592:{{
479:.
443:^
431:}}
427:{{
376:^
346:.
257:}}
253:{{
174:.
71:.
27:.
1038:)
1034:(
668:e
661:t
654:v
602:)
588:.
563:.
493:.
465:.
437:)
423:.
398:.
361:.
332:.
307:.
285:.
263:)
249:.
113:;
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.