Serial Killer Michael Ross Executed

Serial killer Michael Ross became the first inmate to be executed in New England in 45 years shortly after 2 a.m. Friday, May 23, 2005 after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected last-minute appeals from his relatives.

Two last-minute appeals from relatives of Ross were rejected by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York late Thursday afternoon. Then the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a final appeal late Thursday night.

Ross himself filed no appeals to Governor or any court asking for clemency. After 20-years of mandated appeals of his case, Ross said he wanted to die. He fought off attempts from his own public defenders, death penalty opponents, and members of his own family to save his life.

Michael Ross, who confessed to the rape and murder of eight young women, became the first death row inmate executed in New England in 45 years. Ross, 45, waived all appeals and became a "volunteer" for his execution.

Death penalty opponents and Ross' family members have bombarded the Connecticut and Federal courts with appeals, trying to stop the execution. The court ruled, and was upheld on appeal, that Ross was mentally competent to choose death.

See Also:
Time Running Out for Appeals as Ross Prepares for Execution
A Look at Ross' Final Hours
Many Questions, Few Simple Answers In Michael Ross Case
Family Members of Ross' Victims Brace, Again, for Execution
Michael Ross Timeline

Background:
Profile of Serial Killer Michael Ross
Serial Pursuit Trivia Quiz