Three U.S. states executed death row inmates on Thursday, August 13, 2026, marking the first time since 2010 that three executions occurred in a single day. The coordinated executions included Alabama, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, each administering lethal injections within hours of one another.
Alabama executed Jeremy Tremaine Williams, 42, for the rape and murder of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland in December 2021. Williams was pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m. CT after being convicted of offering Kamarie’s mother $2,500 to abuse the child, then strangling and concealing her body under a car tarp in his duplex. Williams’ last words included a statement of forgiveness, stating, “I want to thank God for forgiving me for my sins so I can meet him in peace.”
Oklahoma executed Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez, 70, at 10:13 a.m. CT for the 2003 murder of his common-law wife. Cuesta-Rodriguez, who turned to look at relatives before his death, had no last words but mouthed “I love you” to his family. His breathing was labored for several minutes before he was pronounced dead.
Tennessee executed Anthony Hines, 58, at 10:43 a.m. CT for the 1985 murder of a mother of four, a motel maid. Hines was the third inmate put to death in Tennessee this year.
Immediate Impact and Legal Context
The executions reflect a broader trend in U.S. capital punishment. Eleven states executed 47 people in 2025, the highest total since 2009, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. With Thursday’s executions, 22 inmates have been put to death in 2026, with nearly a dozen more scheduled. Florida alone has conducted 31 executions since the start of 2025, including two in July.
Governor Kay Ivey of Alabama stated in a post-execution release that the nature of Williams’ crimes underscored the necessity of the death penalty. Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor noted that Williams had requested an expedited execution to avoid potential violence in prison, stating, “He didn’t want to look over his shoulder for 30 years, in my opinion.”
Broader Trends in Capital Punishment
The triple execution marks a rare scheduling coincidence but aligns with a nationwide increase in executions. Since 2024, 64% of victims in U.S. executions have been women or girls, according to a USA TODAY analysis. The last time three executions occurred in a single day was January 7, 2010, in Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas. In 2018, three executions were scheduled on the same day, but only one proceeded after a reprieve and technical issues.
Statements from Officials and Advocacy Groups
Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, described the timing as “very unusual” but noted that double or triple executions are typically coincidental. Russell County District Attorney Richard Chancey described Kamarie Holland’s final moments as “horrific,” adding, “That baby didn’t die in peace,” in reference to Williams’ last words.
Advocacy groups, including the National Domestic Abuse Hotline, have emphasized the prevalence of domestic violence in cases tied to capital punishment, though no direct link to the executed inmates’ crimes was cited in their statements.
Background on the Executed Inmates
- Jeremy Tremaine Williams (Alabama): Convicted of raping and strangling Kamarie Holland after offering her mother money to abuse the child. His body was found concealed under a car tarp in his home.
- Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez (Oklahoma): Sentenced for the 2003 fatal shooting of his common-law wife in Oklahoma City. He expressed no last words but acknowledged his relatives before his death.
- Anthony Hines (Tennessee): Executed for the 1985 murder of a motel maid, a mother of four, in Nashville.
The executions follow a record year for Florida, which has conducted 31 executions since January 2025, including two in a single day in July. Governor Ron DeSantis oversaw 19 executions in 2025, the highest annual total for any Florida governor since the death penalty’s reinstatement in 1976.