American transgender woman executed in Missouri (1973–2023)
Amber McLaughlin (January 13, 1973 – January 3, 2023) was an American transgender woman executed in Missouri for the 2003 rape and murder of her ex-girlfriend, Beverly Guenther. At the time of the crime, McLaughlin was living as male; she transitioned from male to female while incarcerated.[1][2][3] McLaughlin became the first openly transgender person to be executed in the United States.[4][5] Her legal name remained her birth name, Scott A. McLaughlin, and she was identified as such in her death warrant and in prison records.[6]
McLaughlin was a registered sex offender because of a 1992 conviction for sexual assault against a 14-year-old girl.[4]
At McLaughlin's 2006 trial, the jury was deadlocked on the issue of the death penalty.[7] In most U.S. states, this would result in a sentence of life imprisonment. However, Missouri is one of only two states (the other being Indiana) in which a judge has the discretion to sentence a defendant to death if the jury is deadlocked on the issue of capital punishment.[8]
In August 2021, McLaughlin's sentence was reinstated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.[9][10] On January 3, 2023, McLaughlin was executed by the state.[11]
See also
References
- ^ Riess, Rebekah; Tucker, Emma (December 16, 2022). "Transgender death row inmate set to be executed in January files clemency application with Missouri governor". CNN. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ "Transgender woman on Missouri's death row asks governor for mercy with execution just days away". CBS News. December 15, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ "Missouri Set to Execute Amber McLaughlin on January 3 in First U.S. Execution of a Transgender Person". Death Penalty Information Center. December 27, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Padgett, Donald (December 15, 2022). "First U.S. Execution of a Transgender Set in Missouri". The Advocate. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ Madani, Doha (January 3, 2023). "Amber McLaughlin, the first openly transgender person to be executed in the U.S., dies by lethal injection". NBC News. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ Andone, Dakin; Vera, Amir (January 3, 2023). "Missouri carries out first known execution of an openly transgender person for 2003 murder". CNN. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
McLaughlin – listed in court documents as Scott McLaughlin – had not initiated a legal name change or transition...
- ^ Lhotka, William C. (November 4, 2006). "With jury divided, judge opts for death sentence for Wright City man". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
- ^ Jones, Ja'han (January 6, 2023). "The disturbing circumstances of Amber McLaughlin's execution". MSNBC.com. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ Patrick, Robert (August 18, 2021). "Federal appeals court reinstates death penalty in 2003 St. Louis County rape, murder". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ "McLaughlin v. Precythe, No. 18-3510 (8th Cir. 2021)". Justia Law. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ Krull, Ryan (January 3, 2023). "Missouri executes transgender woman for murdering her ex-girlfriend in 2003". St. Louis Public Radio.
