John Spenkelink - Aftermath

Aftermath

The controversy did not end with his execution: When the blinds covering the windows of the execution chamber were opened to the witnesses, Spenkelink had already been strapped into the chair, gagged and blindfolded. Since the witnesses had not seen the prisoner brought into the chamber, rumors spread that he had fought the guards, even that his neck had been broken in the altercation, and that he was dead before the execution even took place. Spenkelink's corpse would eventually be exhumed by a Los Angeles coroner—who determined that his cause of death was in fact electrocution. To prevent similar future controversies, prison officials removed the window blinds to allow witnesses to view the entire execution procedure from beginning to end.